Thread: California Panel OKs college aid for illegal residents

http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?a ... S-06-19-06

Illegal immigrant students lobby for chance at financial aid

By AURELIO ROJAS
Sacramento Bee
19-JUN-06

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Like generations of citizens before them, California State University, Chico, students Alba Miranda, Hector Najera and Rene Ochoa descended on the Capitol on Monday to petition members of the Legislature.

Except the three honor students aren't citizens _ they're illegal immigrants, who under state law have a legal right to in-state tuition at California's colleges and universities, but are not eligible for financial aid.

Dozens of students like them from across California came to Sacramento to urge legislators to support a measure _ Senate Bill 160 by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles _ that would allow them to apply for such assistance.

"This legislation would just allow us to be able to fill out applications and compete for a scholarship," Ochoa said.

The measure has cleared the Senate and is scheduled to be heard Tuesday by the Assembly Higher Education Committee. Cedillo predicts it will land on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk later this summer, as immigration heats up as an election year issue.

Margita Thompson, a spokeswoman for the governor, said Schwarzenegger supports the law that allows illegal immigrants who attended a California high school for three years and received a diploma to pay in-state tuition.

"He hasn't taken a position on (SB 160) because he hasn't seen it and it could change before it reaches his desk," Thompson said.

California is one of 10 states to allow illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition. But Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks, and other state lawmakers have introduced bills to repeal the 3-year-old law.

"I just don't believe in rewarding those who have entered our nation in defiance of our laws and sovereignty," McClintock said. "That not only encourages illegal immigration, it's an insult to the millions of legal residents who obeyed our laws."

McClintock disagrees with the governor's support of the in-state tuition law.

"All resources are finite," McClintock said. "Giving tuition subsidies or financial aid to foreign nationals, illegally in this country, means denying that same opportunity to legal residents."

But Democrats counter that these students have spent most of their lives in the United States, and should not be punished because their parents entered illegally.

"We invest in their K-12 education, and do so because we believe that all children should be educated so that we can prepare them for the work force," Cedillo said. "Why would we then hinder them when they're admitted to our colleges and universities?"

SB 160 would require the California community college and California state university systems _ and request the University of California system _ to allow these students to apply and compete for all student aid programs.

Most of the eligible students come from low-income families, Cedillo said. Supporters say that because they are not eligible for aid many high-performing students have not been able to attend college, or have had to drop out.

During the first 2 1/2 years of the legislation, about 18,000 community college students qualified for in-state tuition under the new law.

University of California records show that about 430 undocumented immigrants who graduated from a high school in the state qualified for in-state tuition in 2004-05. The California State University system does keep tally.

Many of these youngsters, Cedillo said, are honor students who "have overcome the greatest challenges and yet perform at the highest levels."

The three Chico State students who spent Monday urging legislators to support the measure fit that profile.

They arrived in the United States from Mexico with their parents who worked as farmworkers. Najera said his mother fled with her three children after his father was murdered, fearing they would be next.

"I've worked very hard," said Najera, adding that financial aid would ease the hardship on his family. "I want to be a productive member of society, but in order to do so, I need to finish my education."

All three students said they worked in the fields with their parents, learned a new language, graduated from high school with A-averages and have been honor students in college.

Because she is not eligible for financial aid, Miranda said she has had to juggle jobs and not been able to concentrate on her studies.

"I can see this from the other side of this issue," she said. "But by helping us, you're helping us contribute to the country."

Except the three honor students aren't citizens _ they're illegal immigrants, who under state law have a legal right to in-state tuition at California's colleges and universities, but are not eligible for financial aid.

Honor students? My foot! Sneakthieves have no honor.

Because she is not eligible for financial aid, Miranda said she has had to juggle jobs and not been able to concentrate on her studies.

Oh, you mean like some AMERICAN KIDS do? Juggle jobs and studying, that is.

Originally Posted by Brian503a

http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=STUDENTS-06-19-06

Illegal immigrant students lobby for chance at financial aid

The measure has cleared the Senate and is scheduled to be heard Tuesday by the Assembly Higher Education Committee. Cedillo predicts it will land on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk later this summer, as immigration heats up as an election year issue.

Margita Thompson, a spokeswoman for the governor, said Schwarzenegger supports the law that allows illegal immigrants who attended a California high school for three years and received a diploma to pay in-state tuition.

"He hasn't taken a position on (SB 160) because he hasn't seen it and it could change before it reaches his desk," Thompson said.

California is one of 10 states to allow illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition. ."

California has always been in the lead when it comes to liberal ideas and attitudes. As far as I am concerned, the USA would be a better place if California were indeed a legal Mexican territory.
Any state that would send a whako like Nancy Pelosi to Washington to represent them needs help.

http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/12 ... 7967c.html

Panel OKs college aid for illegal residents
Act would let California's undocumented students apply for financial help.
By E.J. Schultz / Bee Capitol Bureau

(Updated Wednesday, June 21, 2006, 4:39 AM)

SACRAMENTO — Undocumented immigrants could get state aid for college in California under a bill that cleared an Assembly committee Tuesday.

The California Dream Act, as it's known, would enable undocumented immigrants to seek money from some programs. The bill passed the Assembly Higher Education Committee on a 5-2 vote, delighting a group of Latino students who came to the Capitol to lobby on its behalf.

"It's a total victory today, and it means a lot for students," said Vianey Nuñez, a recent Fresno State graduate and student government officer.

The two Republicans on the committee voted against the bill.

Committee vice chairman Tim Leslie, R-Tahoe City, criticized the bill for rewarding illegal immigration.

"Enabling illegal immigrants to attain state financial aid sends the wrong message to the millions of legal immigrants who have played by the rules, waiting for the chance to live and work in our country, only to see those who have intentionally disobeyed our laws go to the front of the line," he said in a statement.

Sponsor Gil Cedillo, a Democratic senator from Los Angeles, said the bill evens the playing field for immigrant children who had no say in their parents' decision to come here.

"Children should not be held accountable for the acts of their parents," he said.

The bill cleared the Senate earlier this year. It next moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Cedillo said he hopes to get the measure to Gov. Schwarzenegger's desk this summer. The governor hasn't taken a position.

Senate Bill 160 builds upon a law that lets some undocumented immigrants and out-of-state residents pay in-state tuition. To be eligible, students must have graduated from and spent at least three years in California high schools. Cedillo's bill would allow these same students to apply for most state-run financial aid programs.

Not included, however, is the Cal Grant program, a major source of aid.Cedillo said the program was left out for administrative reasons. He hopes to get it included down the road.

As it's written, the legislation could still make a big difference. It costs $1,518 to attend a semester at California State University, Fresno. With a maximum amount of state aid, the fee can be reduced to $258 a semester, said Maria Hernandez, the university's director of financial aid.

The bill applies to state community colleges and the California State University system. University of California schools would be asked to take part. The Legislature does not have jurisdiction over the UC system.

The bill does not affect federal student aid, which is generally not available to undocumented immigrants.

Fresno State does not track the number of undocumented immigrants enrolled. But Nuñez, who graduated in May, suspects there are many. Most, she said, are longtime U.S. residents who pay taxes and deserve the aid.

"It's not like they crossed the border just yesterday," she said.

Nuñez has been lobbying for the bill for a while. The immigrants who attend Fresno State need the aid because many are poor, she said.

Nuñez, a U.S. citizen, said she tried to get several undocumented students to join her in Sacramento for the lobbying effort, but none could afford to take off work for the two-day trip.

The reporter can be reached at eschultz@fresnobee.com or (916) 326-5541. Advertisements