Putting American Students First Act

Putting American Students First Act would change who can participate in Federal TRIO programs by adding explicit immigration and residency requirements. Under the bill, to be eligible for a TRIO program, a person would have to be a U.S. national, a lawful permanent resident, or an alien who is physically present in the United States for a non-temporary purpose and who can provide evidence from the Department of Homeland Security of intent to become lawfully admitted for permanent residence. It also covers certain residents of Freely Associated States and the CNMI. The bill prohibits waivers of these eligibility requirements and makes conforming amendments to ensure cross-references in the Higher Education Act align with the new rule. The short title given to the measure is the “Putting American Students First Act.” In short, the bill tightens eligibility for TRIO services by tying participation to specific immigration/residency statuses and blocks exceptions that might previously have allowed broader access.