Putting American Students First Act

This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 by introducing new and stringent citizenship and residency requirements for individuals participating in Federal TRIO programs. Its primary goal is to redefine who can benefit from these federally funded educational support services, ensuring eligibility is tied to specific immigration statuses. Under the proposed changes, eligibility for TRIO programs would be restricted to United States nationals , aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence , and certain aliens physically present in the U.S. with documented intent from the Secretary of Homeland Security to become permanent residents. It also includes citizens of the Freely Associated States lawfully residing in the U.S., aliens with CNMI Resident status, and lawful residents of the Freely Associated States. A significant provision of the bill is the explicit prohibition against waiving these new eligibility requirements. This means no existing authority, including those related to Performance Partnership Pilots, could be used to circumvent the established immigration and residency criteria for participation in Federal TRIO programs.