Students in Arizona are eligible for in-state tuition at state colleges and universities regardless of their immigration status. This went into effect in December 2022, following the historical victory of Proposition 308 that Arizona voters helped pass. This has allowed students to qualify for state-funded aid like grants and scholarships.
Arizona Gives Day is a 24-hour online giving event that benefits Arizona nonprofit organizations. This year, Aliento is participating. Help us raise funds to open our Arizona’s Future Fellowship to more students and expand our mental health awareness and support!
We are a budding nonprofit with a vision of nurturing human potential independent of immigration status. Our recent success in securing in-state tuition in Arizona is just the beginning—we're striving for further achievements to empower our communities to thrive.
“‘Hope in Action’ is a mantra we live by at Aliento. 2023 was the embodiment of these words. As I reflect on this year, I go back to the day our team dreamt about ensuring every high school student, regardless of immigration status, could have a fair shot at achieving their higher education dreams. As I type these words, I become overwhelmed and overjoyed as I know this is no longer a dream but a reality.”
- Reyna Montoya, CEO and Founder.
We are a community organization that is DACA, undocumented, and youth-led. We are directly impacted people and allies who are invested in the well being, emotional healing, and leadership development of those impacted by the inequalities of lacking an immigration status.
With the federal aid application season underway, Aliento, a leading voice for undocumented youth, DACA, and mixed immigration-status families, is drawing attention to a major financial aid application problem: mixed-status immigration families are struggling to apply for federal student aid.
Aliento, a leading voice for undocumented youth, DACA, and mixed immigration status families, hosted its annual Education Day (“E-Day”) this past Wednesday at the Arizona State Capitol, bringing together more than 300 students, educators, and allies to engage with state legislators on vital issues impacting Arizona's youth and immigrant community.
Growing up undocumented, with no access to in-state tuition, driver's license, ability to work, or just existing without the fear of deportation motivated me to help others.
The uncertainty of my immigration status became a reality for me when the 2017 presidential administration terminated DACA.
Teach For America Arizona alumni Reyna Montoya and Jose Patiño recognized for leading efforts to pass a state law reinstating in-state college tuition for Arizona students regardless of immigration status.
Judge Andrew Hanen expands the original injunction of the DACA program to cover Biden’s effort to codify the policy with the final rule DACA. Initial applications are closed. Over 100,000 Dreamers are stuck at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as they cannot process their applications.
Jose Morales graduated from Bioscience High School. His parents are from Durango and Juarez, Mexico. He was born and raised in Phoenix. His hobbies include playing golf and fishing.
Betsy Arcos Juan will be a senior at Mesa High and is part of the class of 2024! She's the youngest of four and her family immigrated from Veracruz, Mexico, in 1999. She was born and raised in Mesa and she loves playing the guitar, skating, drawing, reading, and baking.
Zabdi Hernandez is a senior at Grand Canyon University. She enjoys road-tripping, playing sports, volunteering, dancing, and learning about different cultures. She got involved with Aliento because shares our passion to advocate for education and mental health.
Yulissa Valencia is an undocumented student at Grand Canyon University majoring in Computer Science with an Emphasis on Business Entrepreneurship. She was born in Tizayuca, Hidalgo, and then immigrated to the U.S. with her parents at 2. Since then, she’s lived in the West Valley with her parents. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family.
