What’s at stake for children and families?

1. Advocating for Education and Public Benefit Access for Immigrants at the State LevelUSCCB National ConferenceJanuary 12, 2012

2. What’s at stake for children and families? • Approximately 1 million unauthorized children growing up in the U.S. • Children of immigrants now comprise nearly 1 in 4 of the U.S. child population • Children of immigrants account for 30% of all U.S. children living in low-income families • 5.5 million children live in mixed-status families, and the majority are U.S. citizens www.firstfocus.net

3. State bills impacting access to higher education 2011 Bills improving access: • Tuition equity/in-state tuition bills (introduced in 12 states, enacted in 3) • Scholarships and financial aid for undocumented students (enacted in 4 states) • Current states with tuition equity policies: CA, CT, IL, KS, MD, NE, NM, NY, OK, RI, TX, UT, WA Bills restricting access: • Bills to repeal tuition equity bills or ban in-state tuition (introduced in 13 states, enacted in 2) • Referendums to repeal tuition equity bills or ban enrollment (MD & MT) • Bills banning undocumented students from enrolling in higher education (introduced in 7 states, enacted in 1) • Current states which ban in-state tuition: AZ, CO, GA, & IN www.firstfocus.net

4. Bills to improve or restrict access to higher education, 2011 OH IN Source: NILC www.firstfocus.net

5. State bills impacting access to K-12 education Bills introduced restricting access to K-12 education (8 states, including AL, AZ, GA, MD, OK, TN, TX, VA) Bills improving access to K-12 education (CA & NJ) U.S. Dept. of Education issued Plyler v. Doe guidance in May of 2011 www.firstfocus.net

6. Bills improving and restricting access to K-12 education, 2011 OH IN Source: NILC www.firstfocus.net

7. Bills impacting access to public benefits, 2011 • Specific public benefit bills enacted in 11 states • Bills in 3 states extend benefits to certain categories of immigrants and refugees • Omnibus bills restricting access to public benefits enacted in 5 states • Bills in 11 states restrict access to unauthorized immigrants: - banning public benefits to unlawfully present immigrants - eligibility and verification requirements www.firstfocus.net

8. Bills impacting access to public benefits, 2011 Bills Impacting Access to Public Benefits, 2011 MT MI PA IA NE IN UT VA CA SC GA AL Legend Bills restricting access to benefits Bills extending access to benefits Bills restricting & extending benefits Bills restricting public benefits through omnibus bills www.firstfocus.net

9. Looking ahead to 2012 • State budgets very tight going into 2012 • More states moving to on-line enrollment and eligibility verification systems • Offensive and defensive strategy will be needed, bills expected on both sides • Media strategy, strategic messaging, identifying champions, and building diverse coalitions are key www.firstfocus.net

10. For more information: Wendy Cervantes Vice President, Immigration and Child Rights Policy (202) 657-0637 wendyc@firstfocus.net www.firstfocus.net