Help a FLI Swarthmore student graduate

My dear friend, a low-income, first-gen Latina student, is asking for support in paying for their senior year at Swarthmore College. They came to the US with their family, hoping for a better life. After many years of hard work and sacrifice, they're now in their last year of college, but they're facing a difficult financial situation.

Recently, they found out that their financial aid was reduced significantly, and no longer reflects what their family can afford. After a long process of reconsideration, the college denied their appeal, which clearly laid out additional financial stress. The decision to deny the reconsideration for more aid came too late in July for them to find alternate funding options.

The student's family runs a small shop in a community that has been deeply affected by recent immigration enforcement policies. In 2024, their sales dropped by 24%, and in 2025 by 44%. The 287(g) agreements with ICE administration and the creation of new detention centers near the community have created fear and uncertainty for everyone. Many people in their community, including customers and friends, have been detained or deported. These challenges have made it much harder for her family to shoulder this immense emotional and financial burden.

The financial aid decision comes just a few weeks after President Val Smith sent an email to the campus community celebrating Trump’s H.R. 1 bill, which eliminated the federal endowment tax at Swarthmore. Smith boasted that the college is saving millions of dollars and benefiting from Trump policies. Meanwhile, Swarthmore is placing a huge financial burden on families whose lives are being upended under the Trump administration. Even though this student's family is making less money and is at much higher risk in the current political climate, the college is demanding they pay a higher tuition bill than they've ever had to pay. Now more than ever, we need to rely on your generosity.

This student is the smartest and most dedicated person I know. They play an essential role on campus as a student organizer, club leader, and a mentor to so many. They have worked so hard to get to this point. They are the first in their family to go to college. They have faced so many challenges and keep moving forward with hope and determination. I want more than anything for them to be able to complete their last year at Swarthmore and achieve their dreams of going to graduate school. They have done everything in their power to support themself and their family, and they now need to lean on community support to get through this last year.

We’re hoping to raise $20,000 in the next two months to help with tuition for this semester. We will continue to need additional support in the spring semester. Every little bit helps. All the money is deposited in the student’s bank account directly so that they can pay their tuition bill. If you can’t donate, please share their story so others can. Your generosity means so much. Thank you so much for reading and for thinking of them during this tough time. It means so much.