Should Illegal Immigrant Students Be Allowed to Receive Scholarship Funding for Higher Education? by Elizabeth Gutierrez

Should Illegal Immigrant Students be allowed to Receive Scholarship Funding for Higher Education? Tim Ferree posted for Elizabeth Gutierrez Feb 2, 2012 11:44 PM There is a great controversy when it comes to immigration itself. But when it’s concentrated on public funding in this case scholarships, it becomes even more problematic. The Urban estimates that 65,000 undocumented students that is, children born abroad who are not U.S. citizens or legal residents graduate from U.S. high schools each year. These children are guaranteed an education in U.S. public schools through grade 12, but may face legal and financial barriers to higher education. Should illegal immigrant students be allowed to receive scholarship funding for higher education? In the past several years, an act has been proposed to the U.S. Senate. This legislation would allow alien minors from ages 12 to 35 to become permanent residents after meeting certain requirements during a six year period. This proposed act is called the D.R.E.A.M act, or Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors. This act has been proposed in several versions to the Senate, in hopes of allowing many undocumented students the option of attending college or joining the military in order to become permanent residents. The recently proposed bill would allow those of good moral character that have arrived to the United States prior to the age of 16, (proof is necessary), and have graduated from high school and obtained a diploma or a GED, to start a path to residency, which may lead to citizenship. In order to obtain these privileges, applicants must meet certain requirements such as attending and completing two years of higher education or joining and serving in a military branch for two years during a six year period in which their legal status will be "conditional." Upon completion of these six years and requirements, applicants are granted permanent residency. However, during those six years, applicants must have no criminal record and MUST meet the terms and conditions of the bill. In the event that the student or applicant does not complete or meet the standards of this legislation, they are subject to possible deportation. Although this bill seems promising and reasonable, it has been a challenge to pass in the Senate. Since 2001, when its original version was proposed, this legislation has been turned down, even until this past proposal on September of 2010. There seems to be a lot of controversy when it comes to enacting the DREAM act, from pros and cons and worries of jeopardizing the quality of American citizens. Many who are against it claim that it is unjust to give all these privileges to 'criminals' when “out-of-state US citizens and law- abiding foreign students have to pay the full cost of their education"("Arguments against the Dream Act." 28 November 2010). But the fact is that many of these undocumented students have been brought here not by choice, but by their parents' choice as young children. Most have lived here their entire lives and have known no other place. Is it not unjust to penalize these young people for the choices of their parents? They have committed no crime themselves that should deprive them, and America, from expanding their knowledge and potentially contributing to this powerful country as much as any other person. "Some of them do not even speak other languages, or remember their native countries. They want to stay here. They want to be productive members of the American society, “said Humberto Cruz, a Senior Political Science major and the Vice President of the LULAC chapter at the University of Texas at El Paso (De Frank, 2010). This act would allow many undocumented young people to move on with their lives here in the United States, many of whom have lived here all their lives, with little to no memory of their birth country (Dream on, 5). The passing of this act would mean the world to many people. Many of the people affected by this came into this country when they were very young, with little to no memory of their country of origin. These young people consider themselves American, because all they have ever known is this nation and its history. Is it fair to penalize them if all they have ever seen is the American way of life? "Arguments against the Dream Act." 28 November 2010 f. DeFrank, John."Immigrant High school graduates seek a path way to citizenship." Borderzine. November 2010. \ “Dream on”. America .19 July 2010. p5. Student Edition web. Kingsbury High School. Memphis Tn.(14November2010) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_immigration_to_the_United_States