one more articles from The Ranger....
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Undocumented eligible for financial aid

By Ximena Victoria Alvarez

Published: Thursday, April 14, 2011

Updated: Monday, April 18, 2011 10:04
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On July 29, the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act: Arizona Immigration Law SB 1070 went into effect.

Ten years earlier, Texas signed HB 1403 into law effective Sept. 1, 2001, which enables immigrant students, including those who are undocumented, to qualify as Texas residents to pay in-state tuition rates.

As the SB 1070 took effect on Hispanic undocumented residents, the debate on education continues.

Nicolas D. Silva and Daniel Sustaita, off-site coordinators of the College Connection Team from the evening, weekend and distance education division, have devoted themselves to educate the community and inform undocumented students that they can pursue an education.

Sustaita and Silva and the College Connection team go to 13 high schools and inform undocumented students how to apply for college and what resources are available.

They visit Fox Tech, Edison, Lanier, Jefferson, Lee, McArthur, Churchill, Madison, Reagan, Johnson, Navarro Academy, International School of the Americas and Alamo Heights.

The SB 1070 has caused a decrease of undocumented students registering on campus.

"The school reaches out to us; there is a certain apprehension with students," Sustaita said.

Silva said, "High schools have undocumented students identified to them. We tell them there are still opportunities for them." The team encounters 20-25 students per year from the schools they visit.

"Thirty to 40 students are recommended to us from the offsite centers; undocumented students aren't sure if it's safe for them to talk to us," Sustaita said.

"A lot of times they hear they need Social Security numbers. Student can file their application without a Social Security number."

Silva said the team "works in conjunction with off-site centers and specializes in helping undocumented students with financial aid."

Silva added that the teams utilize all the services that are available here on campus, such as the Seguir Adelante Center.

The team also encourages students to participate in the San Antonio Educational Partnership, César E. Chávez Scholarship and the Texas Grant.

These resources do not require students to be citizens. Scholarships are based on attendance and satisfactory grades.

"Counselors at the school tell us that most undocumented students are very hard workers," Silva said.

"We don't ask, but for the most part that the majority of students we encounter are working class. They are good kids for what they are going through. They are social. Students have a community in these schools. They feel welcome," Sustaita said.

For more information on financial services at this college, call 210-486-0600.

http://www.theranger.org/undocumente...-aid-1.2543335