There is some evidence that California immigrant families are already disenrolling their children from public benefit programs, even though they are still eligible.
Unaccompanied immigrant students face a daunting set of obstacles to finish high school. Many students have survived severe trauma in their home countries or missed years of school.
A court decision this month requires the government to keep accepting DACA renewal applications, but the Trump administration is calling for the Supreme Court to step in. In the meantime, some young immigrants look to the newly elected House of Representatives.
The Trump administration proposes to deny people green cards for using Medi-Cal or food stamps. Benefits received by U.S. citizen children cannot be taken into account, under the draft regulations. But experts say parents could pull hundreds of thousands of California children out of health and nutrition programs out of fear.