DREAM Act, Student Adjustment Act Vital to Futures of Immigrant Youth
Feature Story by civilrights.org staff - 4/30/2003
Each year, between 50,000 and 65,000 high school graduates are unable to continue their education at public or private universities because, as undocumented students, they cannot be classified as state residents for the purpose of receiving financial assistance.For example, Dario is in the Honors Program at his high school, takes Advanced Placement classes in Spanish, Biology, and Literature, and participates in community leadership development programs at the University of Maryland. He wants a college degree and dreams of becoming a lawyer so that he can help illegal immigrants like himself.
But Dario, the son of illegal immigrants from Guatemala, does not qualify for the public scholarships or federal loans that make college affordable. To reach his dreams, he needs a green card or citizenship, a process that can take more than ten years.
Despite the fact that many of these children have grown up in the United States, attended local schools, and have demonstrated a commitment to learn English and succeed in school, U.S. immigration laws provide no chance for them to pursue their educational dreams.
Under current law most children are dependent on their parents, who brought them to the U.S. at an age at which they were too young to understand the legality of their arrival, for their immigrant status.
Several bipartisan bills have been introduced to address the needs of these children. The Student Adjustment Act would legalize young people who have good moral character, have lived in the U.S. at least five years, are in school in 7th grade or above, and are under 21 years old.
"The Student Adjustment Act is needed because thousands of talented, qualified children are unable to receive a college education," says Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard, who helped introduce the legislation. "As a result, our country is losing the benefit of their talent and potential contributions. This legislation is especially important now when the nation is experiencing a shortage of qualified professionals in careers such as nursing, teaching and computer engineering."
At a news conference sponsored by the National Council of La Raza, Representative Roybal-Allard also voiced her support for the DREAM Act, a companion bill to the Student Adjustment Act that would permit states to determine residency for in-state tuition rates.
"The bill simply allows states to grant talented, academically qualified youth an opportunity to pay in-state tuition if they also meet state residency requirements. Removing this financial burden will give many deserving students the chance to fulfill their dream of going to college."
