Tufts University, located in Massachusetts, has opted to advocate for undocumented students by offering them financial aid so they might fund their undergraduate education and find further success in their futures.

According to Tufts University, the private university decided to establish a new policy of actively recruiting undocumented students, offering them financial aid and potential life success.

The announcement was made at a rally hosted by the Tufts United for Immigrant Justice (UIJ), permitting undocumented students the same level of financial support offered to domestic applicants. Tufts plans to meet 100 percent of the demonstrated needs of each undocumented students. It follows the same packaging guidelines, except federal funding would not be made available to them.

"Our announcement is in keeping with Tufts' long-held values of inclusion and access ... and is consistent with our past support for the Dream Act," University President Anthony Monaco said in a public statement. "We welcome these applicants and the value that they will add to our undergraduate student body."

The United for Immigrant Justice at Tufts argued that DACA students shouldn't be only ones granted financial aid packages and lower in-state tuition. Now, DACA-status students and others will be able to benefit from the policy, which will retroactively include the Class of 2019. Last year, at least five undocumented students were accepted into Tufts and they were provided financial aid. The push for higher education equity could help to ease problems facing the undocumented community, and encourage inclusion and access.

Tufts also plans to create a working group to encourage enrollment. That group will enlist financial aid staff, admissions staff, student affairs staff and current students.

However, Tufts isn't the only school to open its doors to undocumented students. Wabash College and Holy Cross College offers scholarships to their undocumented students. Pomona and Oberlin doesn't discriminate against undocumented applicants; Harvard University doesn't consider immigration status; and New York University launched a pilot program for eligible New York-based undocumented students. Also, Emory University offers financial aid for students who qualify for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

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