NM higher ed secretary responds to loan relief ruling

New Mexico Higher Education Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez said the U.S. Supreme Court decision in “Biden v. Nebraska” blocking, which blocks President Biden’s student loan relief program, will negatively affect almost a quarter-million New Mexicans, according to a news release from Rodriguez.

Rodriguez wrote Friday’s Supreme Court decision to block Biden’s federal student loan relief plan “will negatively impact the more than 200,000 New Mexicans who owe a collective $7.8 billion to private out-of-state loan servicers because they do not have the privilege of paying for their education up-front.

Rodriguez pointed out while education is “the most powerful tool for economic prosperity, too many New Mexicans are burdened with student debt, which not only includes the original cost of their education, but thousands of dollars in interest.”

Rodriguez wrote, “New Mexico will continue to be a national leader in college access and affordability by limiting student debt through tuition-free college.”

Rodriquez noted the state will also continue to provide relief for through, what she described as “generous loan repayment and loan-for-service programs.”