Feds requires colleges to verify legal status for some workforce education students
Sean Dolan
October 13, 2025
The U.S. Department of Education is requiring colleges to verify legal status for students taking certain workforce education courses as part of a broad approach from the Trump administration to restrict undocumented people from accessing federal benefits.
Idaho’s community colleges say complying with this new requirement, which went into effect in August as staff were enrolling students for the fall semester, has taken up countless man hours and involved multiple departments. It also has likely become a barrier for enrolling.
“It was an undertaking that — I don’t know what adjective is the right one — colossal? Titanic?” College of Southern Idaho President Dean Fisher said. “It was significant.”
Colleges can’t say for sure if the requirement has turned away students, but they surmise it has created a barrier for students seeking training in career and technical education courses, including welding, diesel mechanics and nursing.
