Thread: Education of undocumented students is an investment

Education of undocumented students is an investment

4:27 PM
By Mario Bañuelos

September was a bad month for foreign-born students who don't possess a piece of paper with their picture and a date of entry into the United States. They are undocumented - a status they inherited from their parents.

On Sept. 15, a California Court of Appeal ruled that a California law that grants in-state college tuition subsidies for undocumented students is in conflict with federal law.
Under current state law (AB 540), students regardless of citizenship status are eligible for subsidized tuition fees at California community colleges, state universities and University of California campuses.

To qualify for in-state tuition, students must complete three years of high school in California and graduate from a California high school. If they are not a U.S citizen or permanent legal resident, they must complete an AB 540 affidavit at the college or university they plan to attend. The affidavit states that once they are eligible, they will apply for legal status.

The lawsuit was filed by a group of out-of-state students. Their argument was that regardless of California residency, under federal law, undocumented students cannot receive special benefits unless those same benefits are extended to all U.S. citizens.

The University of California has announced that it will be appealing the court ruling to the State Supreme Court, a process that is expected to take a year or longer. In the meantime, for students that qualify under AB 540, the in-state tuition program will remain in effect.

There are an estimated 25,000 of these students that graduate from California high schools every year. For those who wish to continue their education beyond high school and meet admission requirements into colleges and universities, it is becoming increasingly difficult.

The other setback for undocumented students came on Sept. 30, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed for the second year in a row a California version of the federal "DREAM Act" (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act). The bill (SB 1301) would have allowed undocumented students the ability to apply and compete for institutional aid at California colleges and universities in the form of grants, scholarships, work study and loan programs.

The federal DREAM act was first introduced to Congress in July 2003. The act would have allowed qualified undocumented students permanent legal residency if they planned to go to college or join military service. Congress voted it down in 2007.

As one of the authors of an earlier version of the bill, Republican U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah stated, "Many of these youngsters find themselves caught in a catch-22 situation. As (undocumented) immigrants, they cannot work legally. They are also effectively barred from developing academically beyond high school because of the high cost of pursuing higher education. In short, although these children have built their lives here, they have no possibility of achieving and living the American dream. What a tremendous loss for them, and what a tremendous loss to our society."

To understand how we got to this point, all we have to do is look at our current economic crisis. When it comes to our immigration policies, there has to be a balance between jobs and workers. Just as Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said before Congress, "There has to be a balance between regulation and market discipline." If you have too much regulation, you choke the free market; not enough discipline, you get runaway greed. If you have a demand for workers, and then seal the borders and hamper legal migration, you obstruct economic growth.

Opponents of the Dream Act at the federal and state level argue that taxpayers should not pay for the education of undocumented students they consider criminals for violating our immigration laws. However, this is a price we have always paid, because as Americans we consider education not a liability but a long-term investment.

Adults violate immigration laws; their children, as minors, do not choose where to live. The children of immigrants spend years in the public education system, and those who work hard deserve to continue their studies.

In the long run, we all benefit. It is our investment on assets that have been working hard for us.

The good news is that both presidential candidates recognize this and both understand the need for constructive immigration legislation. The Dream Act will be introduced again in 2009. Let's hope this time we get it right.
Mario Ba'uelos has lived in Morgan Hill for 19 years. He has served on the South Valley Dayworker Committee and is a member of the Morgan Hill Community Foundation. He is married and has four children. Reach him at mbanuelos@charter.net.


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Mario Bañuelos
Mario Bañuelos
Mario Bañuelos has lived in Morgan Hill for 19 years. He has served on the South Valley Dayworker Committee and is a member of the Morgan Hill Community Foundation. He is married and has four children

http://www.morganhilltimes.com/opinion/ ... investment

Adults violate immigration laws; their children, as minors, do not choose where to live. The children of immigrants spend years in the public education system, and those who work hard deserve to continue their studies.

In the long run, we all benefit. It is our investment on assets that have been working hard for us.

Didn't buy this BS then, not buying it now. A college education is NOT a "right".

Children of US citizens spend years in the public educational system too and they expect an EDUCATION. Instead, they are forced to the "dumb down" level of children of illegal aliens. Our public education system is in shambles because we are forced to cater to children of illegal aliens. What happened to making education better for AMERICAN CHILDREN???

Where is the investment in AMERICAN children? AMERICAN children who work hard deserve to continue their studies and not to have college spots taken by illegal aliens!
NO DREAM ACT! Not now, not ever!

There are an estimated 25,000 of these students that graduate from California high schools every year.

So tell us about the billions in budget deficit. Tell us about the thousands that graduate or drop out and either deal drugs or live off the public dole.
These kids need to take their parents and go back to their home countries, take what they have learned and change those societies.

Originally Posted by miguelina

Adults violate immigration laws; their children, as minors, do not choose where to live. The children of immigrants spend years in the public education system, and those who work hard deserve to continue their studies.

In the long run, we all benefit. It is our investment on assets that have been working hard for us.

Didn't buy this BS then, not buying it now. A college education is NOT a "right".

Children of US citizens spend years in the public educational system too and they expect an EDUCATION. Instead, they are forced to the "dumb down" level of children of illegal aliens. Our public education system is in shambles because we are forced to cater to children of illegal aliens. What happened to making education better for AMERICAN CHILDREN???

Where is the investment in AMERICAN children? AMERICAN children who work hard deserve to continue their studies and not to have college spots taken by illegal aliens!
NO DREAM ACT! Not now, not ever!

I completely agree, if a college education is not a right afforded to all american citizens then why should we allow illegals to attend college at the tax payers expense? These people have some nerve thinking they are entitled to a college education when most americans can't even afford to go to college and if they do they are bogged down in loans for life. I am so sick and tired of hearing how poor Juan has to work two jobs and can barely afford food or rent, BOO FREAKING HOO! WELCOME TO AMERICA WHERE YOU BUST YOUR BUTT FOR WHAT YOU WANT AND IT ISN'T HANDED TO YOU! (Unless of course your ancestors were slaves over 150 years ago, you crossed the border illegally, your family has been on welfare for generations, you're a "minority" even though in the area you live in is 99% your ethnic background, you're too busy popping out kids to work or take care of them etc etc etc).....I am so sick of the entitlement attitude from actual citizens and when I hear it from illegals I just want to scream!

Investment in the education of CITIZENS is bigger and better!!!!

Originally Posted by miguelina

Adults violate immigration laws; their children, as minors, do not choose where to live. The children of immigrants spend years in the public education system, and those who work hard deserve to continue their studies.

In the long run, we all benefit. It is our investment on assets that have been working hard for us.

Didn't buy this BS then, not buying it now. A college education is NOT a "right".

Children of US citizens spend years in the public educational system too and they expect an EDUCATION. Instead, they are forced to the "dumb down" level of children of illegal aliens. Our public education system is in shambles because we are forced to cater to children of illegal aliens. What happened to making education better for AMERICAN CHILDREN???

Where is the investment in AMERICAN children? AMERICAN children who work hard deserve to continue their studies and not to have college spots taken by illegal aliens!
NO DREAM ACT! Not now, not ever!

Well said. Illegals basically think education should be granted to them. I can't stand to hear their sob stories about how they came to America illegally for more opportunities for their children. Why don't they teach their children the concept of personal responsibility and come here legally. I also feel sorry for the children of legal immigrants because they come here legally and assimilate and later their children also have to dumb down too in public school systems.

An investment in what? Seems like this is an investment in other countries' economies at the American taxpayers' expense.

There's this littel river not far from here that is just jamb packed with gold...

The Dream Act discriminates against American students. If illegal aliens can receive special loans, grants, scholarships, and pay in-state tuition, then the rest of the students living in the U.S. should get twice as much or more!
IMO, illegal aliens students should NEVER EVEN BE ALLOWED TO AN EDUCATION PAID FOR BY TAXPAYERS! Get rid of that insane law!
Mexico offeres free college, as well as many other Latin American countries. So go back home and take advantage of their programs. STOP MOOCHING OFF OF AMERICA!