Thread: Arizona teen pursues college dream in friendlier state

Arizona teen pursues college dream in friendlier state
Sandra Baltazar MartÃ*nez | The New Mexican
Posted: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 - 9/5/10
1 Comment

ESPAÑOLA — Alberto hasn't been in Mexico since his parents moved from Chihuahua to Phoenix when he was 2 years old.

His hometown on the other side of the border is only an eight-hour drive from Phoenix, but his parents were unwilling to risk the journey because they are living in the U.S. illegally. For the past 16 years, they've had to forgo holidays and birthdays with relatives still in Mexico.

"I didn't know I was illegal until I was in eighth grade," said Alberto, who asked that The New Mexican not fully identify him for this story.

When he learned his status, a lot of things started to make sense — like why the family never took vacations, or why ordinary outings were limited. And the presence of Plan B. It was understood that if his parents did not come back after going out to run an errand, a neighbor or one of the few relatives they have would take care of Alberto and his two younger sisters (who were born in the U.S. and are citizens).

"We'd always stay at home, but to think, 'what if they don't come back?' was always stressful," he recalled.

In Arizona, the anti-immigrant climate has worsened, Alberto said. That's why he decided to leave after graduating from high school. He knew he wanted to continue with his education, but with the implementation in July of SB 1070, the state's strict new immigration law, enrolling at the local community college was a risk, he said.

"In Arizona, I'd be too scared to say, 'I don't have a Social (Security number).' Here, it's OK," said Alberto, referring to Northern New Mexico College in Española, where he is a student.

In July, he left Phoenix and decided to pursue his dream to major in psychology to become a high-school counselor. Staying in Arizona meant not attending school, not being able to drive. And the only possibility of work was in construction, alongside his father.

New Mexico is one of 10 states that allow local undocumented residents to pay in-state tuition. Those students also qualify for the state's lottery scholarship. As an out-of-state student, Alberto pays higher tuition, but, he said, "I feel normal here. I feel normal for once.

"My last year in high school, I thought, 'I'll never go to college.' But when I came (to Española), I was excited. I'm actually doing something with my life," he said.

Alberto is one of a number of students who have recently moved from Arizona to attend school in New Mexico.

Santa Fe Public Schools Superintendent Bobbie Gutierrez said 25 pupils from Arizona school districts have enrolled this year in Santa Fe public schools.

According to Todd Lovato, director of media and public relations at Santa Fe Community College, six students who have Arizona addresses are registered for credit courses this semester — although he noted that doesn't mean they are undocumented.

New Mexico State University in Las Cruces has not seen an increase in transfer students from Arizona colleges, but the university typically has close to 100 Mexican undergraduate and graduate students who mainly come from Chihuahua, said Valerie Pickett, director of admissions.

At Northern New Mexico College, Alberto is paying $500 per month in tuition. Since he is ineligible to work, his parents — who are still in Arizona — help with the expenses. Alberto has relatives in Española and plans to live with them for four years until he receives his bachelor's degree.

He's unsure of what he'll do next if the federal government doesn't pass either immigration reform or the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act — or DREAM Act — by the time he graduates.

Alberto is one of about 65,000 undocumented teens who graduate from high schools across the country every year. The last time the U.S. passed immigration reform was in 1986, granting amnesty to many people who were here illegally.

According to the Immigration Policy Center in Washington, D.C., the DREAM Act, sponsored by Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Richard Lugar, R-Ind., would allow "current, former and future undocumented high school graduates and GED recipients a pathway to U.S. citizenship through college or the armed services." This means that people like Alberto would be awarded a conditional lawful permanent resident status for six years, during which time they would have to complete two years of higher education or military service, although they would not be eligible for federal education grants.

For Alberto, completing a college degree in a time of uncertainty is still his best bet, he said.

"I'm going to school for practically nothing, but I'd rather go and have (immigration reform) not happen than not to go (to school) and have it happen," he said.

Life can be difficult and frustrating at times, he added. "I didn't choose to be born in Mexico or to come here."

His family members' immigration status has hindered them emotionally. His parents are so afraid of being deported that they never travel beyond work, church and to run errands, Alberto said.

For he next four years, while he attends school in Española, he won't get to see them much. If he obtains a New Mexico driver's license, he will only drive within the state, he said.

"A big part of my life is going to be away from my family ... so trying to go back home (to Arizona) — I just can't," said Alberto, forcing a smile on his face.

So how does an undocumented student identify himself? Alberto would say he's a Mexican American.

"I'm an American because I live in America, but I'm not being claimed by America," he said. "So I'm Mexican. When people ask me, 'Are you Mexican?' I say, 'yes, I'm Mexican.' "

www.santafenewmexican.com

Deport this guy and charge his parents for the years of child endangerment. His parents did this to him, not you or me.

In Arizona, the anti-immigrant climate has worsened, Alberto said. That's why he decided to leave after graduating from high school. He knew he wanted to continue with his education, but with the implementation in July of SB 1070, the state's strict new immigration law, enrolling at the local community college was a risk, he said.

"In Arizona, I'd be too scared to say, 'I don't have a Social (Security number).' Here, it's OK," said Alberto, referring to Northern New Mexico College in Española, where he is a student.

In July, he left Phoenix and decided to pursue his dream to major in psychology to become a high-school counselor. Staying in Arizona meant not attending school, not being able to drive. And the only possibility of work was in construction, alongside his father.

New Mexico is one of 10 states that allow local undocumented residents to pay in-state tuition. Those students also qualify for the state's lottery scholarship. As an out-of-state student, Alberto pays higher tuition, but, he said, "I feel normal here. I feel normal for once

To those who say these little perks, such as in-state tuition and drivers licenses do not attract illegal invaders...I say you're full of shit!

None of this would be happening to this young man had his parents not commited a crime many years ago. They lived in fear all these years because they knew they were wrong.

Who is to blame for this problem....................the parents or the USA??