Senator Schmitt: Government College Loans are ‘Prioritized’ for Illegal Immigrants

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., has requested Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to explain why federal college loan applications for American students are facing delays while applications from illegal migrants are being prioritized.

In a letter sent on Wednesday, Schmitt highlighted that the Department of Education has not successfully implemented the new, simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) despite having ample time and resources. The new form, with reduced questions from 108 to 38, was supposed to streamline the application process, but prospective students faced difficulty accessing it until December 2023, causing significant delays.

Schmitt noted that colleges did not receive student data from completed applications until the end of March 2024, further delaying the process. This delay means students may not receive financial aid letters until April or May, well past many universities’ decision timelines.

The senator expressed concern over the impact of these delays, particularly in Missouri, citing a report from KCUR about glitches and delays in the FAFSA rollout.

Furthermore, Schmitt criticized the Department of Education for prioritizing the applications of families with illegal aliens and allowing workarounds and loopholes for their submissions. This prioritization puts working American families dependent on FAFSA determinations at the end of the line.