Title: College Within Reach: A boost for immigrant students and workforce
Author: Editorial
Publisher: The Dallas Morning News
Date Published: March 20, 2006
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College Within Reach: A boost for immigrant students and workforce
by Editorial
Here's a piece of the immigration reform puzzle that's brought together some unlikely allies. Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois and Republican Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Richard Lugar of Indiana have been pushing for legislation that would help children brought illegally to the U.S. get a college education.
Their goal is passage of the Dream Act, a bill that has languished for the past two years despite strong bipartisan support. In fact, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed it by a 16-3 vote last year. That's the kind of support that gives us hope that politicians can work together to solve sticky problems.
The Dream Act could change the futures of about 65,000 kids yearly who graduate from high school – many of them standout students in the top 10 percent of their class and eager to go to college. The only problem? They're here illegally. Even if they receive an acceptance letter from the college of their choice, chances are, many will never attend. For one, many can't afford the tuition and don't qualify for most private scholarships or state and federal grants and loans. Never mind that they also can't work legally to pay their way through college.
The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act would allow certain immigrant students to become legal permanent residents on a conditional basis for six years. But first, they must meet rigid criteria.
And while some of you may be thinking that this sounds like amnesty for criminals, please remember that these children didn't choose to break the law. They were brought here by their parents. Most of them have never returned "home" because home is the United States.
One thing the Dream Act highlights is the inconsistency with our laws.
"The Dream Act would help address a major problem schools currently face," said Dallas school trustee Edwin Flores. "We spend a couple of hundred thousand dollars for a child that the federal government says we have to teach, and then the same federal government tells us we can't employ."
Those illegal immigrant students fortunate enough to attend college really never become a part of the workforce. Even with a college degree, they're still unemployable in jobs such as education and end up taking on menial jobs or leaving the country.
"It's college-educated talent we're shipping off," said Mr. Flores. "They'll go find jobs in India and China and flatten our world a little more."
CRITERIA FOR DREAM ACT- Must have entered the U.S. before age 16
- Must have been accepted for admission into a two- or four-year institution of higher education or have earned a high school diploma or a general education development (GED) certificate at the time of application for relief
- Must reside in U.S. when law is enacted and must have lived in the U.S. for at least five years preceding the date of enactment of the act
- No criminal record
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