Print friendly
E-mail story
Contact an Editor
iPod friendly
Comments
Bookmark This
del.icio.us.
Digg!
furl
google
newsvine
reddit
technorati
Facebook
Yahoo!“When we do not allow individuals to get an education,” said Carlos Cohen, a former social studies teacher at San Marcos High School, at an event over the weekend, “we close a lot of doors on opportunities.”
Cohen has mentored many college-bound but undocumented students such as Eder G., 19, who graduated from San Marcos but then had trouble finding financial support for college because many scholarships required legal residency. But thanks to Libros Sin Fronteras (or “Books without Borders”) — a financial aid program run by PUEBLO that hosted an event on Saturday, July 27 at Santa Barbara’s Casa de la Raza — Eder is now a third-year political science and economics major at UCLA. “We’re one of the few scholarships that doesn’t require [legal residency],” explained Eder.
In California, students who are undocumented are not eligible for financial aid, often curtailing any hopes of higher education. California Assembly Bill 540, passed by Gov. Gray Davis in 1991, allows undocumented students who have earned their high school diplomas after completing at least three years at a California high school to pay in-state tuition at public institutions such as UCs and community colleges. While this makes college much more affordable, some students still need assistance. The PUEBLO Youth Committee initiated Libros Sin Fronteras to answer this call.
Last Saturday night found La Casa filled with students, supporters, and delicious food as part of the Youth Committee’s scholarship fundraiser. Students gave bilingual presentations on AB 540, as well as told stories of their own experiences as first generation college students. Thanks to the scholarship, sponsored students now attend UC Berkeley, Irvine, and Los Angeles, among other top schools.
“We can do as many fundraisers as we want,” said Juan Casillas, a professor of Spanish at Santa Barbara City College. “Ultimately, what matters is changing the law.”
One law that would improve the situation of immigrant students is the California Dream Act. The bill would make it possible for undocumented students to receive financial aid from public universities and colleges. The legislation has been passed by the State Assembly before, but was vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
As such, California is left in limbo, because children under the age of 18 are required to attend school, but once those children graduate high school, the state no longer supports them if they are undocumented. That creates a serious problem for thousands of undocumented students, and leaves few options.
“What they want is to only educate them enough for the minimum wage,” believes Casillas. “I think there’s a contradiction there.”
To contribute to Libros Sin Fronteras, go to PUEBLO’s website.
Double-clicking on any word or phrase in this story will open a reference window with definitions and links to other reference material.
Previous Month
Comments
Discussion Guidelines
Undocumented College Student
Translation: Illegal immigrant who sneaks across the border to steal an education from the taxpayers of the United States.
California Dream Act
Translation: You're dreaming if you think the American Taxpayer is going to pay a single more dime to educate foreign nationals, especially if it has to be done in Spanish!
“Ultimately, what matters is changing the law.”
You're still dreaming. The law says: Illegal Immigrants are here illegally. That law will never change. Wait in line with all of the other people who want to take advantage of what this country has to offer at the expense of the hardworking taxpayers, and have the respect to do it legally. If anyone wants to come to this country, obey the existing laws before you dare think about changing ours.
“What they want is to only educate them enough for the minimum wage,” believes Casillas. “I think there’s a contradiction there.”
Contradiction? The contradiction is that Illegal immigrants are already bankrupting the State by stealing everything they are not entitled to and rewarded enough already for breaking the law. They have stolen a high school education, that should be more than sufficient to earn a minimum wage. Be thankful for that. Stop dreaming. The American dream belongs to the legal immigrant, it is there to be earned, not stolen or given as an entitlement. Not one more dime!
And before anyone starts commenting, no this is not hate speech, it is free speech. And no, it is not racist, it is nationalist. Don't even try it. Thank God we still have free speech and a sovereign country how long it will last is anyone's guess - if we keep accomodating and catering to citizens of every other country under the guise of political correctness and tolerance. This is the United States of America don't ever forget it.
AShaw (anonymous profile)
July 29, 2008 at 5:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Post a comment