Why we needHispanic Leaders
In South Carolina, Hispanic students face significant barriers to their own future
The Student DREAMers Alliance (SDA) provides students a space for self-discovery and the resources needed to unleash their potential, develop resilience, and build their own toolbox to position themselves for success and leadership.
Dreamers are an asset to our country, and if given the opportunity, they will build stronger, inclusive, and thriving communities. We believe nothing should stand in the way of a college education—not the lack of financial aid, and not a student’s immigration status.
About the barriers for Hispanic students in South Carolina
1) Out-of-state tuition for students who have received DACA status
Students in South Carolina who have DACA status are allowed to enroll in state public colleges and universities, yet they are subjected to paying the same tuition rates as out-of-state students, irrespective of their residency in South Carolina.
DACA students are thus left with limited post-secondary education options within the state of South Carolina, other than attending private schools, which are usually significantly more expensive than public postsecondary schools, paying full out of state tuition, or leaving South Carolina to pursue their education in other states with more favorable policies, albeit likely still paying out of state tuition rates (Roth, 2017).
2) No path to higher education for students who are undocumented
3) Legislation prohibits professional licensure
Even if these students complete degree programs, DACA recipients are not able to receive a professional license in South Carolina (S.C. Code of Laws Section 8-29-10). These licenses include those for accountants, contractors, engineers, real estate agents, nurses, and teachers, among others.
In April 2022, South Carolina House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill H.R 3243 that would allow persons protected under DACA to receive profession/occupational licensure. However, it still needs to be deliberated and passed by the Senate before it is signed into law by the Governor (Eisner & Larson, 2022) (Higher Ed Immigration portal, 2022).
