Undocumented Students in the West

The question of whether undocumented students have a right to broad access to higher education is a debate that cuts across party lines and political ideologies, sometimes in unpredictable, rhetorically charged ways. “Undocumented Students in the West,” a new Policy Insights brief from the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, examines changing student demographics in the states and how the undocumented population may impact higher education in the years to come. In addition to detailing the characteristics of the undocumented population, the report provides an overview of the state policy landscape surrounding the issue, including a summary of legislation affecting undocumented students in Western states. The report further outlines some of the possible implications of either extending or restricting higher education benefits to undocumented students.