Munoz sends measure granting undocumented youth access to financial aid to governor

SPRINGFIELD – Undocumented students would be eligible for state financial aid programs under a proposal that was co-sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago).

“Our undocumented youth has an immense amount of untapped potential due to policies that ignore the contributions undocumented people make to our society on a daily basis,” Munoz said. “I commend all those young people who have worked tirelessly to obtain degrees in spite of rules meant to hold them back, and look forward to the outcomes of this change.”

The Retention of Illinois Students and Equity Act makes undocumented and transgender students eligible to receive state financial aid at all colleges and universities in Illinois.

The RISE Act also removes a cap on the Monetary Award Program that only allows students to use up to 75 hours of MAP awards during their freshman and sophomore years of college.

House Bill 2691 will now head to the governor’s desk for approval.