CLOSE Sergio Baron, a DACA recipient who is pursuing an engineering agree, shares why he supports the financial aid bill for "DREAMers." Steph Solis, @stephmsolis

Rutgers (Photo: NorthJersey.com file photo)

A bill that would provide in-state college financial aid to undocumented students is scheduled to be signed Wednesday by Gov. Phil Murphy.

How many people will benefit from the law and how much it could ultimately cost is not yet known and may change. But new enrollment figures at public colleges show that as many as 759 undocumented students could potentially apply for the aid.

That number is higher than what is included in a fiscal analysis of the bill by the Office of Legislative Services, which estimated the state would have to appropriate an additional $4.47 million to provide Tuition Aid Grants to 600 newly eligible students.

In 2013, former Gov. Chris Christie signed the New Jersey Tuition Equality Act into law, allowing undocumented students who met certain criteria to qualify for in-state tuition rates at all of the state's public colleges.

State public colleges were asked how many undocumented students took advantage of the in-state tuition. Most of the colleges responded, except for William Paterson University and Rowan University. The figures do not include the number of undocumented students enrolled at county colleges or private colleges.

If signed into law, immigrant students who are not in the country legally would be eligible for financial aid provided by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority or the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, provided they meet certain requirements.

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The bill would extend financial aid to "Dreamers," undocumented immigrants who were brought to the country as children. Both the Assembly and the Senate approved the bill. It now rests on Murphy's desk and, if signed, will take effect in the fall.

Opponents of the bill contend the funding is merely misdirected financial aid that could go to those living in the country legally. But for the more than 700 undocumented immigrant students in state colleges, it's a lifeline to higher education.

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Johanna Calle, director of New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, said the bill will provide young students aid that she had to struggle to obtain. Calle is a graduate of The College of New Jersey, and was undocumented while attending classes.

"I did not qualify for any financial aid," Calle said. "I couldn't get any grants. I couldn't get any scholarships either. I was in the top 5 percent of my class. I was captain of the swim team. I was active. But I couldn't get any of those."

Calle had to advocate for herself, presenting the college's financial aid office with 10 years' worth of her parents' tax returns, in order to pay in-state tuition. By working multiple jobs, she graduated in four years.

At Calle's alma mater, there are currently only 16 undocumented students enrolled, according to the survey.

Under current law, undocumented students are only eligible for merit-based scholarships. That leaves students who may do well enough to gain acceptance into a college but not well enough to get scholarships in a bad way.

For students currently enrolled in state colleges, the bill could provide much needed financial help. Madelyne Montes-Reyes, of Morristown, has been going to Montclair State University for four years. Only her first year has been as a full-time student.

"Right now the way that I'm covering my tuition is just out of pocket," Montes-Reyes, 22, said. "Which has been very very difficult."

Adding to the difficulty is a lack of resources. Some schools with more undocumented students, like Rutgers University with 471, the highest of those surveyed, have organizations dedicated to advocacy and information for undocumented students.

But others lag behind in resources, Calle said, leaving students without information. At Montclair State University, which has 54 undocumented students, resources are sparse, Montes-Reyes said.

"I actually didn't know there were that many students over there," Montes-Reyes said. "It explains how the campus works. I was a student leader so i was very involved with the Student Government Association. However I don't think I ever came across a student I knew was undocumented."

Calle, who splits her time between the alliance and as a Hackensack school board member, looks forward to a time when hounding the financial aid office is no longer necessary.

"I think it's really great that young people now are going to be able to get some of the financial aid help," Calle said. "They'll be able to finish their college education. Many may have gone to community college and then are not able to finish."

For Montes-Reyes, the bill would mean getting back on track to fulfilling her dream: graduating with a degree in pscyhology. Looking ahead, she's already looked into summer courses and plans to apply for financial aid as soon as she can.

"This bill is very important to me because my dream of school no longer has to be put on hold," Montes-Reyes said.



Email: torrejon@northjersey.com

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