A couple of years ago, in one of my Hispanic literature classes, the students had a discussion about in-state tuition for DREAMers. A few students who were in the country on visas were very angry that they should pay such high tuition while undocumented students were allowed in-state tuition rates.
It is logical that foreign students who get stuck with 250% increases in tuition would be angry. Yet it is important to remember that DREAMers have been living in the U.S. since they were young children - moving through the educational system as if they were born here -- many no even knowing they are undocumented.
There is assumption that foreign students here on visas are all very wealthy... There is some truth to this in that oftentimes, it costs a great deal of money to obtain passports - which is especially difficult in Mexico since 70% of the population lives in poverty - Many DREAMer's families could not have afforded to send their child to the U.S. to college using the route of a passport and visa.
Just about every DREAMer I have ever met has been in the U.S. for at least 10 years, speaks fluent English, and sees themselves as American. It would be great if this would be enough to make them citizens.
When foreign students get angry about the high tuition rates they pay, maybe it would be helpful to remember that they don't have to experience a panic attack every time there is word that an ICE raid is about to occur. That in itself is worth paying the higher tuition.
----
Utah: In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants Unfair to Foreign Students?
KCPW News, Aug 27, 2008
By Elizabeth Ziegler
(KCPW News) The debate about the state's controversial law granting in-state tuition for illegal immigrants will surface again at the Immigration Interim Committee meeting tonight in Park City. An Indonesian student and a University of Utah instructor will testify that the law is unfair to foreign students who are charged more expensive out-of-state tuition. Adjunct professor Rebecca Cowden says she's worked for years with people from developing countries, and we should give those here on student visas tuition breaks, too.
"I just don't think the label that I don't like foreigners applies. I'm just saying: It just feels like we're held hostage and this is nutty," Cowden says. "If they have enough money to do this, then please, could we expand it to the legal students and could we expand it to the other American citizens. And the ugly truth, I suspect, is that we don't have the money and we just don't know what to do."
Advocates, such as Utahan's for the American Dream Co-Chairwoman Karen Crompton, are wary of efforts to outlaw the tuition break. Crompton, who is also the executive director of Voices for Utah Children, says many have grown up as Americans. Under the current law, illegal immigrants who graduate after attending at least three years of high school in Utah qualify for in-state tuition. The law initially passed the Legislature in anticipation of the federal Dream Act, sponsored by Utah's U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch. But the bill failed to pass Congress.
Crompton agrees a college education is too expensive for many students, but she feels the financial challenges unique to illegal immigrants warrant giving them cheaper tuition.
"Getting an education is tougher for everyone these days because of the financial cost and fewer loans being available. And in fact, students of undocumented parents have very few financial options. They're not eligible for federal grants or loans, nor grants from universities," Crompton says. "So they really have a tough job ahead of them. And so I think we should really reward and encourage their effort, which is really to achieve the American dream."
An attempt to reverse the law failed to gain Legislative support earlier this year. However, a sweeping immigration reform bill, S.B. 81, was approved.
thanks to nilc.org for passing this on
No comments:
Post a Comment