Immigration controversy
Senator defends higher education for undocumented immigrants
By Stephanie Garcia Krenrich
Saturday, July 21, 2007

About 120 of the University of New Mexico's 25,817 students are undocumented immigrants, and the state lawmaker who sponsored the legislation that allows them to receive an education says it's been a positive move.

Sen. Cynthia Nava, a Doña Ana Democrat, said the number of undocumented students attending the state's largest university is small but has been important.

"I think that when we were proposing the legislation, we maintained that it wouldn't have a huge impact on the state," she said. "But it has a huge impact to the students that received it."

The law, passed in 2005, prohibits denial of admission for education benefits based on immigration status. It came to attention recently when seven undocumented students from Colorado received in-state tuition in New Mexico. Colorado law prohibits colleges from providing in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants.

New Mexico's law is particularly controversial to some, especially against the backdrop of a larger national debate on immigration.

Republican Party of New Mexico spokesman Scott Darnell said he opposes the law because he believes it lures undocumented immigrants to New Mexico.

"Illegal immigrants want to come to New Mexico based on the laws passed by our democratic government and Legislature," he said. "They have offered inappropriate incentives for immigrants to come to New Mexico. New Mexico has become a sanctuary state because of laws like that for immigrants."

Nava said she believes more should be done to increase young immigrants' awareness that opportunities do exist for them in New Mexico.

"High schools should be doing more to let students know that they have that opportunity," she said. "I think we probably don't do a good enough job of making students and parents aware that these opportunities exist."

Marcela Diaz, executive director of the Santa Fe immigrant advocacy group Somos Un Pueblo Unido, said officials in higher education and public education need to do more to increase the number of undocumented students in college.

"I think it (the number of undocumented immigrants) should grow in the sense that we need to keep students in school and give them opportunities," she said. "This is, regardless of immigration, about New Mexico's youth."

UNM spokeswoman Susan McKinsey said, while UNM does not earmark scholarships for undocumented students, they can apply for financial aid after they've been in school for one year. About $133,000 in scholarship aid goes to undocumented students.

Nava said she pushed for the law because of her beliefs in equal opportunity.

"It's a sad thing that some of these students go all the way through public school, and they are bright and talented students. They get to higher ed and find out the door is closed for them," she said.

Diaz said all these students are doing is trying to fulfill the American dream.

"They have a lot to give to our communities," she said. "These are our future bilingual, bicultural nurses, teachers, etc."

© 2006 The Albuquerque Tribune

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