According to a study, there is a gap in education between U.S. citizens’ children and illegal immigrants’ children. The study was conducted by a University of California, Irvine Professor and 3 other researchers. While the children of citizens end up going to school for a total of 13 years, noncitizens’ children only go for an average of 11 years.
There are higher drop-out rates amongst students whose parents are not legal citizens. Why? Some students say that they have very limited options of continuing their education past high school. The majority of illegal immigrants do not earn more than minimum wage and, with undocumented parents, it’s impossible to afford college fees.
What’s more, without proper salary documentation, it’s impossible to apply for scholarship, grants, and loans. So even if you can’t afford college, chances are, you don’t have the option of going out and finding other means of funding your education either. Lack of tax information puts illegal immigrants’ children in a difficult position. Often times, teenagers drop out of high school to work and help their families pay for bills and rent.
Students whose parents have citizenship or green cards are found to be more successful in high school and eventually move onto college. This is because the financial stability of these families creates a more positive environment in which students feel free to pursue their education.
Altogether, this study shows us that immigration status matters more than about whether or not a person is here legally. Immigrants’ status in the United States has an impact on their financial status, ability to afford living in the U.S., and opportunities available to students and other workers.