White House says students without legal status can receive pandemic aid.

WA SH I NGTON» The Biden administration said Tuesday that students in the country illegally could receive some of the $36 billion in emergency stimulus aid flowing to colleges, reversing a Trump-era policy that barred them from earlier rounds of funding that could help cover necessities.

Miguel Cardona, the education secretary, told reporters during a phone call Monday that a final rule issued through the Education Department would not require colleges to consider students’ immigration status when determining their need for federal grants that could pay for basics such as food and housing.

According to the rule, the

Biden administration determined that doing so would create “significant additional roadblocks and delays” in issuing the grants.