Thread: Illegal Immigrant Students May Receive Financial Aid

Illegal Immigrant Students May Receive Financial Aid
By Gene Haagenson
10/04/2007 -

Students all over the state are pressuring the Governor to sign a bill to help undocumented immigrants get through college.

The California Dream Act would enable immigrants who went to high school here to qualify for some state financial aid.
Students who rallied at Fresno State and at the state capitol say children who were brought into this country illegally, but grew up here and went to school should be able to get some help going to college.

"I came to the United States when I was a baby. I grew up here. The United States was everything that I knew," said Nayaly Arreola.

Nayaly Arreola was among the college students rallying in support of Senate Bill 1, a measure giving undocumented students a shot at financial aid from the state.

"I couldn't qualify for any loans so I had to work two or three jobs to pay even the room and board," said Nayaly.

The legislature approved Senate Bill 1, but Governor Schwarzenegger hasn't signed it. Powerful republicans are urging him not to.

"Federal law prohibits employing illegal immigrants. Why are we paying them cash handouts to attend our colleges?" said State Senator, Tom McClintock.

Despite the opposition, supporters say it will help the state.

"These are future citizens who will be paying tax dollars. What better way to contribute to California than to invest in higher education?" said Esmerelda Santos, Fresno State Associated Students.

Nayaly Arreolo is now a senior at Fresno Pacific University and is also student body president.

Four years ago, her hopes of going to college were almost crushed. Federal immigration authorities ordered the Porterville family deported back to Mexico. Nayaly was then 17, hoping to graduate from high school.

Senator Dianne Feinstein intervened, introducing a private bill to keep the family here and letting Nayaly reach a goal many other immigrant children will never reach.

"A lot of students can't continue past community college because of these financial barriers," said Nayaly.

Rallies are expected to continue around the state until the Oct. 14th. That's the deadline for Governor Schwarzenegger to sign the bill.

Supporters of Senate Bill 1 say the legislation would not take money from other students, but would allow undocumented students to apply for any leftover funds in the state's Cal-Grant program for higher education.
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?secti ... id=5691970

These are future citizens who will be paying tax dollars. What better way to contribute to California than to invest in higher education?" said Esmerelda Santos, Fresno State Associated Students.

These are illegal aliens who are being deported as we speak. I'm sure the taxpayers of California are sick and tired of these bleeding heart politicians assuming that they are jumping for joy having to dole out the majority of their income to support a bunch of people who have no right to be in this country.

Senator Dianne Feinstein intervened, introducing a private bill to keep the family here and letting Nayaly reach a goal many other immigrant children will never reach.

Elected representatives like Feinstein make me sick! The law is the law and should not be ignored or muniplated to benefit those that break the law.

"I came to the United States when I was a baby. I grew up here. The United States was everything that I knew," said Nayaly Arreola.

There are competing feelings about Nayaly growing up here. One view is that she has received an education, probably health care, perhaps welfare and other taxpayer-funded perks. Our country has conservatively spent a couple hundred thousand dollars on her up to this point. I'd like to hear how much she thinks we still owe her.

Below is an excerpt taken from my local paper several weeks ago. Our Ga. communities are so interwoven with nearby Alabama cities that it sometimes presents problems when people are able to move but a few blocks and be in another state. If we used the cost enumerated there an education through high school would cost more than $100,000.

If you live in Alabama or another state and want your child to attend public schools in Columbus, it's going to cost you $7,798 a year -- if the Muscogee County School District accepts the application.
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ion#463367