Illegal Students Await Immigration Plan
WASHINGTON
At 23, Mariana should be carefree. She is finishing her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles, and has been accepted to a master’s program at Harvard University’s education school.
http://www.diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_7402.shtml
June 5th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
It is unfortunate to see an entity called “Diverse Issues in Higher Education” using of the term “illegal” (as opposed to the term “undocumented,” for example) and not being sensitive to the stereotypes and discrimination perpetuated by the use of such a term. I hope you will be more sensitive in future articles.
June 5th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
I am amazed how these “illegal immigrants” or as others would describe as “undocumented immigrants” have been able to enter our schools of higher education without proper documentation. Are these students paying out of state tuition as they would be required to pay in North Carolina? AND are these students receving federal and state funds including Pell grants and Federally guranteed Stanford Loans to pay for the tuition? Federal funds should not be used to finance higher education for this segment of the population
June 5th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
No, undocumented students are not eligible for federal or state loans. However, some states, such as California, is currently allowing undocumented students to pay regular tuition. This law is currently being challenged.
June 5th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Im sorry, but where are you and your ancestors from. Are you all Native Americans? because as far as I remember you all were illegals at one time or another. It is not convenient for you guys that illegals are here at the moment, so theyre not welcome right. But as soon as you need or want something like cheap apples, then theyre welcome. Its the same thing that has happenend time and time again, and if you and your ancestors got an opportunity to built a better life for you, then why shouldnt the rest of the people have at least a chance to pursue their goals. Plus, many of the people are here as a matter of survival, you were just lucky to be born in a country where they dont take everything that you have if you open your mouth a little too much.
June 6th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
As an educator, I am sensitive to the dreams of those wishing to participate fully in the “American Dream,” through education. Still, as an attorney, I must note that ours is a nation of laws, that everyone must recognize and to which everyone is subject. These persons are “illegal” — not just “undocumented.” Such euphemisms should not obscure the fact that if they are here without having gone through the right channels they are “illegal,” irrespective of the fact that their parents brought them here.
June 8th, 2007 at 6:51 am
I can’t believe the political correctness I’m seeing amongst those who responded. It seems like Mark Faust is the only one exhibiting any independent, original thought.
First, we need to call a spade a spade and quit sugarcoating crime. Those who enter our country without permission aren’t merely “undocumented”, they’re illegal. They broke the law. Change the law if you want through the political process, but until such change is effected, you are obligated to obey the laws we have, not the laws you want.
Second, using the historical argument is intellectually dishonest. The statement “we are all illegals” sounds like typical New Age hippie poppycock. We are not responsible for any sins committed by our ancestors, and those who claim we are generally are engaging in psychological or even financial blackmail. The past can never be used to morally justify the present.
June 9th, 2007 at 3:05 am
As a Human Being, I am sensitive to the dreams of those wishing to participate fully in the “American Dream,” through education. Still, as an activist for Human rights, I must note that ours is a nation of laws, that everyone must recognize and to which everyone is subject. That this nation we speak of, has been created by …people… and has been suspended in a successful economic reputation due to the so called immigrants, whether legal or illegal, who work arduously.
The statement, “hippie poppycock” sounds like a typical label for something which can’t be described with proper argumentative practices. First of all, no one on this blog made the statement “we are all illegals” like the wanna-be anchorage activist erronously quoted. And if such was the case, yes, we would all be illegals because does anyone recall the British invasion of what we know today as the “United States”? Does anyone recall the British asking the Native Americans about the laws THEY had rightfully established?… did the British bother to follow such laws? Well, in that case, we are all illegals and it is only due to the stupidity of our selfishness, pride, and desire to make others suffer. All this without taking into consideration that life is a boomerang– what you give, you shall receive eventually. So to all those who refuse to accept other Human Beings into what they believe to be a perfect society, I wish the best of luck and may God protect you all and your families from any injustice that will hinder your attempt to reach any goals.
The past is always used to morally justify the present. You may want to rethink your statement. Especially when refering to LIFE where the present is based on the past and the future is based on the present.
In addition, the children whose parents bring them here are not “illegal”, their parents’ actions may be classified as illegal. But the children are not a bad influence on your own rightfully “American” children who often can’t even read their own english language and receive tutoring from an immigrant teacher or tutor and have worse influences in life such as drugs and racial groups like the KKK who sin by killing others.
Smile, and let others smile. Get over the fact that someone may have made your life a living hell in your youth and you feel like it is your duty to screw up someone else’s youth. Support children, for they are your future and a universal symbol of innocence.
June 21st, 2007 at 7:50 am
Is it fair for a person to be forced back to country which is foreign to them? Is it fair for dreams to be afforded only to the people who are legal?
Immigration cases are never simple. It’s not black and white cases where you have to do something wrong to not get a legal status. With every case people tend to forget there is real person behind and real consequences to their life. I can say all students who stay here in America even with so much adversity and fear do so because their lives are here. They are every bit American as those who can trace their lineage back to Mayflower. They eat hamburgers, enjoy a good beer after hard days work and love a good game of baseball. They did not have choice in whether to come here and it’s not their fault they are illegal. To send away the educated, the skilled and those with true love for this country is just plain stupid.
July 3rd, 2007 at 8:25 pm
HI, EVERYONE AS SEE YOU CAN SEE I ALSO READ THIS STORY AND IT REALLY TOUCH MY HEART BECAUSE IS THE SAME THING THAT IS HAPENNING TO ME TO. I\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’VE BEEN IN THIIS STATE FOR 14 AND A HALF YEARS AN I CONSIDERATED THIS COUNTRY AS MY HOME. I WAS BORN IN MEXICO AND NEVER BEEN THEIR SINCE THE DAY I GOT HERE. I GRADUATED THIS YEAR 2007 IN CARL HAYDEN HIGH SCHOOL AND I STILL WANT TO KEEP UP FOR MY EDUCATION IN TO MY CARRER AS A NURSE BUT I CANT MAKE MY DREAM COME TRUE FOR THE SAME REASON THAT IM UNDOCUMMENTED. AN NONE OF THE COLLEGES I SING IN HAS NOT ACCEPTED ME FOR NOT HAVING THAT THING CALL SOCIAL SECURITY IT REALLY HURTS AND KNOW IM GOING TO KEEP TRYING.
July 3rd, 2007 at 8:26 pm
HI, EVERYONE AS SEE YOU CAN SEE I ALSO READ THIS STORY AND IT REALLY TOUCH MY HEART BECAUSE IS THE SAME THING THAT IS HAPENNING TO ME TO. I\’VE BEEN IN THIIS STATE FOR 14 AND A HALF YEARS AN I CONSIDERATED THIS COUNTRY AS MY HOME. I WAS BORN IN MEXICO AND NEVER BEEN THEIR SINCE THE DAY I GOT HERE. I GRADUATED THIS YEAR 2007 IN CARL HAYDEN HIGH SCHOOL AND I STILL WANT TO KEEP UP FOR MY EDUCATION IN TO MY CARRER AS A NURSE BUT I CANT MAKE MY DREAM COME TRUE FOR THE SAME REASON THAT IM UNDOCUMMENTED. AN NONE OF THE COLLEGES I SING IN HAS NOT ACCEPTED ME FOR NOT HAVING THAT THING CALL SOCIAL SECURITY IT REALLY HURTS AND KNOW IM GOING TO KEEP TRYING.
July 3rd, 2007 at 8:27 pm
HI, EVERYONE AS SEE YOU CAN SEE I ALSO READ THIS STORY AND IT REALLY TOUCH MY HEART BECAUSE IS THE SAME THING THAT IS HAPENNING TO ME TO. I\\\\\\\’VE BEEN IN THIIS STATE FOR 14 AND A HALF YEARS AN I CONSIDERATED THIS COUNTRY AS MY HOME. I WAS BORN IN MEXICO AND NEVER BEEN THEIR SINCE THE DAY I GOT HERE. I GRADUATED THIS YEAR 2007 IN CARL HAYDEN HIGH SCHOOL AND I STILL WANT TO KEEP UP FOR MY EDUCATION IN TO MY CARRER AS A NURSE BUT I CANT MAKE MY DREAM COME TRUE FOR THE SAME REASON THAT IM UNDOCUMMENTED. AN NONE OF THE COLLEGES I SING IN HAS NOT ACCEPTED ME FOR NOT HAVING THAT THING CALL SOCIAL SECURITY IT REALLY HURTS AND KNOW IM GOING TO KEEP TRYING.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:37 am
The United States is built on immigrants, is it not? Especially New York. I think it’s wonderful to give illegal immigrants the right to further their education. Our ancestors had the rights and merely without the past, we wouldn’t be here today. Whether you’re a citizen, a resident, or an immigrant with or without rights to the US, you deserve the right to be educated. I` m a US citizen and I think everyone whose saying that illegal students are taking away their rights to a job or tuition or even scholarships need to rethink that idea. No one is taking away your rights to anything. If you work hard; you’ll be rewarded accordingly but lets face the facts there are illegal immigrants that are doing better in school than those with rights. I think they deserve to be rewarded too. I hope this bill is passed and soon because there are so many kids out there that deserves something like this.
April 4th, 2008 at 4:17 am
it is funny that everyone has an opinion on immigration and nit pick about \’illegal\’ or \’undocumented\’. this is a small issue and it will take more than a bill passed in congress to address the issue of students and attaining higher education. it is true that some immigrants have higher GPA thans their counterparts who are actual citizens of this country. i for one would be considered an illegal but i have a higher GPA than half of my class. also another misconception is that illegals need to depend on federal funds i personally work to put myself through college though i pay four times as much as regular students. does this make me angry, no. what makes me angry is that my tax dollars are paying for someone elses education. after i graduate i may just go home with the nursing degree that i \’bought\’. for isn\’t that what we illegals ought to do buy our own education? why should america then benefit from my contribution to society? N E ways whats the real issue? its INFORMSTION or lack of it. who provides information to the millions of immigrant families that live in the US on how they can secure legal residency for them and thier children and ensure that their children can attain higher education instead of joining the unemployed , undereducated masses in america. which is the bigger issue?
July 8th, 2008 at 2:20 am
it is easy to say that “they” should apply for legal status but u have no idea how hard it is. if u crossed the border there is no legal means by which u can get status (unless u leave ur country and ask for forgiveness to a judge). But what about the people that come here legally and that have stayed legal and are hard working people shouldn’t they be treated different. they are legal immigrants but do not hold a green card. what happens to them, should they be ruled by the same ruler? i don’t think that is fare. the legal process is a tedious one but one has to do what they have to do. i just want those people who currently have a legal status to be placed as its very own group, they have followed the rules, payed their taxes and have done everything a model citizen should do. shouldn’t they be given a path towards citizenship a lot faster and easier. i feel for the people whose dreams are on hold but we have our priority should be to award those who have not broken any laws.