Non-citizen students and transgender individuals not eligible for federal student loan aid because they’ve failed to register for the selective service would be able to access tuition assistance in Illinois under a plan passed by the House. State Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Chicago, has the Retain Illinois Students Act which would give Monetary Award Program money to noncitizen students who have not obtained lawful permanent residence. House Bill 2691 would also give the benefit to transgender students who are disqualified for the benefit for failure to register for the selective service, which all males 18 and older are required to register for in case of a military draft.
