Navigating Education and Immigration Challenges in the Current Political Climate
As a young adult facing significant hurdles, I find myself increasingly overwhelmed by the recent legislative changes and their impact on my future plans. Having just celebrated my 20th birthday in May, I moved from Alabama to Texas in a difficult situation—living in my car after being asked to leave home. My initial hope was to establish stability by enrolling in a local university, potentially participating in a study abroad program or pursuing studies at a foreign institution.
Over the past two semesters, I’ve managed to maintain a 3.6 GPA at a community college, aiming to leverage this record to transfer into a four-year university here in Texas. My long-term goal has always been to use my academic performance as a stepping stone toward studying abroad, perhaps in Europe, which has always seemed like the ideal environment for my career aspirations in forensic science.
However, recent developments—specifically, the passage of a new bill facilitating what I refer to as the “Big Beautiful Bill”—have created significant barriers to accessing higher education and essential social support. As someone relying on SNAP benefits and facing the threat of homelessness, I now worry that these reforms may limit my ability to afford university tuition here in Texas. This has cast doubt on my plans to transfer or attend university locally, and I fear losing the financial aid I depend on.
My academic background isn’t perfect—my high school GPA was a 2.1 due to various circumstances beyond my control, including periods of forced withdrawal from school, largely influenced by my mother’s opposition to my educational goals. Despite challenges, I was determined to pursue a future in forensic science, standing firm against adversity. Yet, with the current political and economic hurdles, I question whether continuing in community college is still a viable path.
If these obstacles persist—losing benefits, facing homelessness again, or inadequate funding for shelters—I may be forced to reconsider my educational pursuits and explore trade schools instead. But I don’t want to settle for a life of manual labor; I want a career that aligns with my passions and allows me to secure a stable future, not just for myself, but to pave the way for my younger sister’s success.
In my attempt to broaden my prospects, I’ve started learning German, considering countries like Germany, the UK, or the Netherlands. While my focus has been broad, I remain uncertain about the feasibility of translating my community college credits internationally—Germany, for example, doesn’t recognize credits from U