The Higher Ed Immigration Portal, a project that exists to advocate for Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA students), undocumented, refugee, other immigrants, and international students estimates in 2018 there were approximately 5,000 undocumented students graduating from Virginia high schools annually, and 13,122 undocumented students in Virginia higher education. Beyond these numbers, they estimate 62,000 first generation immigrants (born abroad and immigrated to the U.S.) and 85,000 second generation immigrants (U.S. -born individuals with at least one immigrant parent) also enrolled in Virginia colleges and universities. In all likelihood, given that these estimates are seven years old, the numbers are probably a bit larger and they represent a risk factor to institutional enrollment as current United States policy is aimed at reducing the presence of these individuals.
The American Immigration Council, using American Community Survey microdata from 2023, estimates 258,800 undocumented immigrants living in Virginia. They further estimate 12,700 DACA-eligible residents, with 12,441 having been granted DACA status. From SCHEV’s records, we know that in fall 2024, there were 334 DACA students enrolled at the public institutions. This represents a steady decrease from fall 2019 in which 1,288 DACA students were reported to us. Further, in fall 2024, 228 undocumented students were reported as enrolled at Virginia public institutions.