Student Aid for Illegal Immigrants Sparks Debate
Student Aid for Illegal Immigrants Sparks Debate
http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=32205
A small group of students rallied at the State Capitol, pushing for legislation that would allow undocumented students living in California the opportunity to apply for state financial aid.
"I had to sacrifice a full ride," said Susan who did not want to give News10 her last name. "No one should have to go through what I went through."
Susan who came to the U.S. from South America when she was 7 years old, graduated from high school with a 4.3 grade point average and received more than $30,000 in scholarships, but she had to turn them down because of her immigration status.
Sen. Gil Cedillo from Los Angeles, the author of the measure, believes California needs to make this investment.
"California is the fifth largest economy in the world," said Cedillo. "We have to have an educated workforce to maintain our global competitiveness."
Cedillo claims the program will not take away scholarships from legal citizens.
"No student here would be bumped as a result of this new program," said Cedillo. "What we are doing is that, that money is being sent back to the state, that money should be invested in quality education for every Californian."
According to The California Student Aid Commission, nearly 266,000 awards were handed out this year at an estimated cost of nearly $810 million. Eighty-nine percent of them are entitlement awards, only 11 percent are competitive. Tom Mays from Cal Grants said the commission has not taken a position yet on the proposal.
But several Republicans have.
"It's a finite pool and it ought not be distributed to people who are not playing by the rules of California or immigrations rules," said Republican Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa.
"We've got working poor in California. We've got middle class in California who can't afford to send their kids to college ... they get no help so they don't get grants," said Republican Assemblyman Mike Villanes.
As the debate continues, Susan and other students are hoping legislators reach an agreement so that the Dream Act becomes reality.
"I'm doing this for my community," said Susan. "Why do don't you invest in the students who are here doing the best they can?"
