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DREAM Act would offer lift to students
By TERESA SICARD ARCHAMBEAULT
Courier-Post Staff


For hundreds of undocumented high school students like Mayra Medina, their American dream is for Congress to approve the DREAM Act.

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act was introduced in 2002 to help students who are living in the United States illegally but have graduated from high school and want to attend college. The proposal would grant temporary status to qualified immigrants, which could eventually lead to lawful permanent residence and citizenship.

Critics say the act rewards those who circumvented U.S. immigration laws.

On Thursday in Trenton, Latinos Unidos en Poder (Latinos United in Power), a Rutgers University student organization, is organizing a DREAM Act rally outside the State House.

"This year, once again, hundreds of undocumented students will graduate from public school and will not have the chance to attend college," said Carlos Avila of the Immigrant Public Advocacy Coalition of Trenton.

Medina, 16, who came to this country from Mexico when she was 6, cannot attend college in the United States because of her illegal immigrant status. She's been on the honor roll and she participates in extracurricular activities, such as track and field.

She dreams of becoming a pediatrician but the reality is her options are limited.

Although she knows she is not a U.S. citizen, she feels more American than Mexican.

"I do not see myself going back to Mexico. I don't even remember what it looks like," said Medina, a 10th-grader at a Camden school.

Elba Suarez, principal of Lanning Square Elementary School in Camden, says she has seen many cases like Medina's in the 37 years that she has worked for the district.

"I think this is a punishment for these children to tell them that they cannot become professionals because they are undocumented," Suarez said.

Mariann Davies, a member of Latin Americans for Immigration Reform -- whose parents came to the United States from Ecuador many decades ago -- said that if Congress approves the act it will be rewarding those who entered the country illegally.

"The students should look to their families, not the government, for putting them in this situation. It is not the taxpayer's duty to remedy their situation," Davies said.

Maria Juega, chairwoman of Latin America Legal Defense & Education Fund, said that a large number of Hispanic high school students who drop out are undocumented.

Pennsauken resident Jose Espinosa, 19, graduated from high school and works in the kitchen of a Cherry Hill restaurant. He wanted to attend a technical school to study auto mechanics but, as an undocumented citizen, he's ineligible for financial aid.

When Medina graduated with honors from middle school in 2004, she was awarded a Savings Bond to use for her college tuition. But since she did not have a Social Security number, she could not accept it.

Next year, she will face another disappointment. Without a Social Security card, she cannot take a nursing certification exam. Still, she remains hopeful.

"I can't give up because I do not have papers, I know that something good will come for us (undocumented residents) and it will work out well," she said.

Reach Teresa Sicard Archambeault at (856) 486-2917 or tsicard@courierpostonline.com
Published: March 28. 2006 3:00AM