Opinion on California DREAM Act

CA: Opinion: Immigrant Students Deserve Chance at Financial Aid
San Jose Mercury News,
September 25, 2008
By Kent Wong Special

This week the California Dream Act moved to the governor's desk, and the future of thousands of students depends on his decision. The Dream Act would provide undocumented immigrant students the opportunity to compete for college loans and grants for which they are currently ineligible. It is supported by a broad coalition, including educators, students, religious leaders, labor and business groups.SB 1301, sponsored by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, would allow deserving undocumented immigrant students the same opportunity as other students to apply for institutional financial aid. It would be a godsend for these students, and it would benefit society as a whole by increasing the number of educated young people entering the workforce.More than 25,000 undocumented students graduate from California high schools each year. Most were brought here as young children by parents or other relatives. For many, this is the only country they have ever known. And yet, because of their immigration status, they are doomed to a life in the underground economy unless there is a change in federal law that would provide them with a path to citizenship.The Federal Dream Act would offer them an opportunity to earn legal status through attending college or serving in the U.S. military. Despite extensive bipartisan support, the bill was blocked by a minority of senators last year. Members of Congress from both parties are planning to reintroduce the Federal Dream Act in 2009. But in the meantime, California has an opportunity to do the right thing and help young residents in this position.By signing SB 1301 into law, Arnold Schwarzenegger our immigrant governor can make a strong statement that these young people deserve better. They have done exactly what our society has asked them to do. They have worked hard, studied hard and are pursuing a college education.Allowing them to compete for financial aid would not result in any increase to the state budget; nor would it give these students a free ride or unfair advantage over citizens. SB 1301 would just allow them to compete for aid based on their personal knowledge and achievements. Ironically, undocumented students enrolled in higher education pay fees that contribute to the financial aid that is made available to their classmates, yet they themselves cannot apply for these benefits.Undocumented students are allowed to pay in-state tuition because of legislation signed in 2001, opening college doors to thousands who would never have been able to afford out-of-state tuition. Yet even this modest initiative is being attacked in the courts by anti-immigrant forces. Recently, an appeals court issued a ruling against the law.These AB 540 students, as they are called, represent some of the best and brightest of their generation. Despite tremendous obstacles, many are working two and three jobs in order to support themselves through college. They are training to become teachers, social workers, engineers, scientists and health care professionals. These are professions our society desperately needs: U.S. employers are aggressively recruiting thousands of workers from other countries to fill many of these kinds of jobs, when we have a wealth of resources right here that are being ignored.The California Dream Act is good public policy. Not only would immigrant students benefit, but all of California would benefit from a better educated and better skilled workforce. Gov. Schwarzenegger should allow these students a chance at the American dream.Kent Wong teaches labor studies and Asian-American studies at UCLA and has co-edited the student publication, "Underground Undergrads: UCLA undocumented immigrant students speak out."