Thread: Congressman, illegal immigrant students push for tuition law

Congressman, illegal immigrant students push for tuition law


By LAURA WIDES-MUNOZ
AP Hispanic Affairs Writer
March 12. 2007 3:52PM

Andres Garcia remembers the day his mother tossed him over the fence to fellow migrants along the California border as his family fled the war in Guatemala, dreaming of education and a better life in the U.S.

Fifteen years later, Garcia's dreams are still deferred. Each year, roughly 65,000 students like Garcia are unable to attend college because of their illegal immigration status, which disqualifies them from paying in-state tuition, making even a two-year college degree unattainable.

On Monday, Garcia was among more than a dozen young adults to stand with U.S. Reps. Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, and call on lawmakers to finally pass a perennial bill that would enable immigrants like himself to afford college and eventually earn citizenship.

"I grew up here. I got good grades, but I've watched my friends go to college, and every year it gets more frustrating," said Garcia, 21, who works at an aviary to support his mother and five siblings, but hopes to study business and one day open a Guatemalan restaurant.

For more than half a decade, lawmakers have unsuccessfully introduced the "American Dream Act," but experts say this may be the year it becomes a reality.

"Congress, this year, is in the hands of leadership more inclined to pass comprehensive immigration reform than those of the past few Congresses," said the bill's co-sponsor, U.S. Rep. Howard Berman, D-Los Angeles, referring to the new Democratic majority. "The Dream Act will be included in that comprehensive legislation."

But even under the Democrats, comprehensive immigration reform for the country's estimated 11 million illegal immigrants may be too controversial to pass before the 2008 election season - making the "Dream Act," a palatable fallback plan.

"The Dream Act is an attractive alternative for the House Democrats who fear the political fallout of an amnesty but want to be able to say they did something," said Mark Krikorian, executive Director of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Immigration Studies, which favors tighter immigration controls.

The bill would allow qualified students, brought to the U.S. at least five years ago and before they turned 16, to get temporary residency while they complete at least two years of college or serve in the U.S. military. Permanent residency could be granted after six years.

Lincoln Diaz-Balart, also a co-sponsor of the bill, agreed the tuition bill may have more traction than a broader reform bill.

"Obviously, we're pushing for comprehensive immigration reform. It is my hope that at the very least, we can achieve the Dream Act," he said.

Diaz-Balart called it unfair to punish people like Garcia for the sins of their parents.

"These kids didn't make the decision to come here. It was their parents," he said.

But Krikorian said allowing illegal immigrants to pay in-state for college - or even attend college - encourages more illegal immigrants to come.

"It's an amnesty," he said, "a small one, but it sends the message that illegal immigration will be rewarded. Krikorian said he might be more inclined to support the bill if it came attached to a broader enforcement effort.

For Garcia, who speaks Spanish, English and the Mayan Indian Kanjobal language of his parents, the issue is not about rewards but about wasting the country's youth and talent.

"I know I have so much potential that I am not using," he said. "I want to be a leader. I'm young and energetic now, but I won't be young forever.'



http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... /703122571

Sure they are! They want it and we don't want to pay for it!

They can go to college, they just have to pay full price, just like the Americans from the ajoining state.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!

Dixie

OK let me get this straight. He remembers the day his mom tossed him over the fence to ILLEGALLY cross the border. But, he thinks he deserves in state tution. Come on. Does their audacity have no limit?

But we always hear how illegals only do the jobs that no American wants to do. So does that mean these people will end up being college educated janitors or tomato pickers?

I'm so tired of my tax money being used this way! Our own kids can't even get into American Universities. I've had it!

Lincoln-Diaz Balart is an ex Marxist who in 1974 felt all American political parties were too far to the right. Then in 1976 he turned Democrat and he became the chief organizer for the Carter Campaign in Tampa St. Petrsburg as a Democrat. He ran for state representative from Hialeah as a Democrat twice but failed to win. Among the things his highly Cuban born voters held against him was that his aunt Mirtha had been married to Fidel Castro. Finally his luck picked up when he joined the Republicans. After serving a few terms in Talahassee he ran for Congress and won. He lead the group of protesters which shut down the Florida recount in 2000. His brother Mario was the beneficiary of a gerrymander in which he boundaries of a voting district were redrawn to assure his election. They were involved in politicing for the successful extension of the El Salvadorean Temporary Protected Status.

NO discounts for ILLEGALS.

NO higher education seats should be going to ILLEGALS in the first place, while AMerican kids must pay the full fare IF they're able to snag a seat in the school of their choice!!!

What about American children come first is so freaking difficult to understand? Is that another concept that the lawmakers who refuse to uphold the laws which they created, just can't figure out???

2ndamendsis wrote:

What about American children come first is so freaking difficult to understand? Is that another concept that the lawmakers who refuse to uphold the laws which they created, just can't figure out???

When and why did illegals become special people??? Is it because pols disdain Americans?

Andres Garcia remembers the day his mother tossed him over the fence to fellow migrants along the California border as his family fled the war in Guatemala, dreaming of education and a better life in the US.

Boo-Hoo-Hoo, sniff sniff. At the tender age of 3 or 4, Andres remembers "dreaming of education" as his mother flung him over a fence".

[quote
Fifteen years later, Garcia's dreams are still deferred. Each year, roughly 65,000 students like Garcia are unable to attend college because of their illegal immigration status, which disqualifies them from paying in-state tuition, making even a two-year college degree unattainable.
quote]

Why oh why did this happen? Maybe it's because Andres Garcia's Parents conned hin into believing he was part of the "American Dream", when in fact, he is ILLEGAL JUST LIKE HIS PARENTS.

Andres Garcia DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR INSTATE TUITION ANYWHERE! He has the same STATUS of other ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHILDREN.
American children deserve to come first, PERIOD! Take your complaint to your country of origin and ask them what they intend to do about it, because it IS NOT OUR PROBLEM!

DITTO!!!!
AND MY WALLET IS GETTING TO THIN TO SEND YOU AND YOUR COMPADRES TO COLLEGE SO GET OVER !!

MAY I SUGJEST YOU DO THE TAMATO PICKING, WE HAVE ALOT OF ELDERLY WHO CAN STILL DO JANITORIAL WORK TO SUBSIDIZE THEIR INCOME, SINCE OUR TAXES ARE SO HIGH FROM SUPPLYING YOU AND YOUR RELATIVIES WITH MEDICAL AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES THEY CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO LIVE ON THEIR RETIREMENTS !! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!