Thread: NY to let illegal aliens become teachers

NY to let undocumented workers become teachers

Joseph Spector, Albany Bureau Chief
10:41 a.m. EST February 25, 2016

MaryEllen Elia speaks May 26 in Albany after the Board of Regents elected her as the new state education commissioner. (Photo: AP)


ALBANY -- Undocumented immigrants in New York will be able to apply for teacher certifications and professional licenses, the state Board of Regents said.

The board that oversee education policies in New York voted Wednesday to allow people who can't get legal residency because of their parents' immigration status to seek teacher certifications.

They will also be able to apply for a license from among the 53 professions overseen by the state Education Department, including a variety of medical professions.

“These are young people who came to the U.S. as children,” state Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said in a statement. “They are American in every way but immigration status.

They’ve done everything right. They’ve worked hard in school, some have even served in the military, but when it’s time to apply for a license, they’re told ‘Stop. That’s far enough.’ We shouldn’t close the door on their dreams."

The Board of Regents pointed to a June 2012 policy by the Obama Administration called theDeferred Action for Childhood Arrivals that allows individuals who came to the U.S. as children and meet certain guidelines to request consideration of "deferred immigration action" for two years that can be renewed.

The federal policy, the board said, applies to young people who usually get their immigration status from their parents, many of whom are undocumented.

"As a result, most of these individuals have no current mechanism to obtain legal residency, even if they have lived most of their lives in the U.S." the Board of Regents said in a statement.

But people in the system are prohibited from obtaining teaching certification and licenses in certain professions, the board said, including pharmacy, dentistry and engineering.

The regulation by the Board of Regents will be finalized after a public-comment period.

State lawmakers praised the action. Democrats have been pushing for the Dream Act in New York, which would allow immigrants in the country illegally to access state financial aid for college. Republicans have opposed the measure.

"“This is a tremendous win for New York’s students,” Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, said in a statement. “The Assembly Majority has always led the charge to expand opportunities for every student and we have championed issues like the DREAM Act and greater investment in higher education to show our commitment to all of the families who have made New York their home."

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/poli...hers/80922622/

by CAROLINE MAY
26 Feb 2016

Illegal immigrants may soon be teachers, pharmacists, dentists and other professions that require certification in New York.

The state’s Board of Regents has voted to adopt new regulations allowing individuals granted executive amnesty — via President Obama’s 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program — to apply for teacher certification and other professional licenses.

“These are young people who came to the U.S. as children,” State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said in a statement Wednesday. “They are American in every way but immigration status.”

“They’ve done everything right,” she continued. “They’ve worked hard in school, some have even served in the military, but when it’s time to apply for a license, they’re told ‘Stop. That’s far enough. We shouldn’t close the door on their dreams. Allowing these young people to get professional licenses will open up a new world of economic opportunity for them.”

The New York Department of Education provides licenses for 53 professions.

While illegal immigrants who have been granted DACA are able to obtain employment authorization and work legally in the U.S., they are largely unable to receive professional licensing. The New York Board of Regents’ decision opens up a wealth of occupations previously unattainable for illegal immigrants living in the U.S.

According to the Department of Education, once the policy is finalized, following a public comment period, illegal immigrants granted DACA will be able to apply for and obtain professional licenses.

Democrats praised the Board’s decision as an important step to open more opportunities up for illegal immigrants.

“The proposed regulations by the Board is a positive move to help the more than 53,000 New Yorkers who have registered for DACA, the 200,000 more which live in fear and have not signed and live in our State, and for the 787,000 DACA enrollees nationwide who will now see that New York is the land of opportunity where they can bring their talents to help improve their lives,” Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo said in a statement.

Republicans in the state slammed the move. Hudson Valley state Sen. Terrence Murphy told the New York Post, “Allowing lawbreakers to teach, or practice medicine, says a lot about how backwards our priorities truly are in New York. This is another example of why rule-making by un-elected bureaucrats is what is ruining New York state.”

http://www.breitbart.com/big-governm...onal-licenses/

3/4/16

http://www.alipac.us/f12/ny-moves-hi...llowed-329690/