"conditional residency status" does not automatically mean in-state tuition. That option was negotiated out of the senate bill.
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In the film "Sofie's Choice" a young mother is forced to decide which of her two children will live and which wil die. She and the children have arrived at Auschwitz. A sadistic German officer forces her to make a decision. Ultimately it is her daughter that dies and her son that lives. The guilt destroys her life. She survives the death camp and immigrates to the United States, but the guilt overtakes her.
The current state of the DREAM ACT has a strong semblance to Sophie's Choice. U.S. Senators have decided who will live and who will die. I mean this literally. The DREAM ACT students who have already completed their 2 years of college (and other requirements like no criminal record etc) will not only live, but will flourish with their new residency status, their education and their tremendous drive. The undocumented youth who have not completed the education requirement may have no other choice than to join the military. The only chance they have is if they live in a state that already has in-state tuition for undocumented students - then they can continue their schooling. If they reside in one of the other 40 states they will have to come up with thousands of dollars to pay international student rates. Remember that undocumented students rarely qualify for financial aide.
To regularize they join the Army, or the Marines, or another branch of the military. Since the U.S. Congress has not made any kind of committment regarding our withdraw of American troops, it is likely these young recruits will be sent to Iraq. We all know the consequences of that assignment. Military deaths in Iraq and Afganistan do not match the Vietnam War, but if you include injuries causing disabilities, the numbers are the same.
it is important for me to clarify that I'm not totally against the military. What I do not agree with is thousands of soldiers being sent to a conflict that should have been ended long ago. Otherwise, the military is great for most young people. By enlisting they mature, leave their home region, meet people from all over, and then take with them benefits that will help them continue their education.
So its one for the other. I'm sure the DREAM ACT is seriously being considered now because of the military option. Otherwise it would have passed a long time ago. When Durbin took out the in-state tuition clause he and his colleagues decided to greatly reduce the accessibility of the education option in order to get the bill passed.
The consequences are this:
in one family there are two DREAM ACT students. One that just completed college and one finishing high school. The college graduate will automatically qualify. The high school student faces dismal prospects if the state in which he lives does not have in-state tuition.
He may have "conditional residency status" - but this will not automatically allow him in-state tuition. He will not qualify for in-state tuition in the other 40 states until he obtains his "permanent residency."
What does he do now if he can't afford international student tuition rates?
2 comments:
Could you state your source for the initial sentence? Is it your interpretation or from another source???
It has been open information that the In-State Tuition clause was taken out of the bill.
We are double checking what this means ( we had thought it was regarding those with conditional residency) so we can be sure we have the most accurate information and have put in a call to Senator Durbin's office.
Many DREAM ACT kids are concerned about the ramifications of not having the In-St. tuition. available.
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