Student Aid for Illegal Immigrants Sparks Debate

A small group of students rallied at the State Capitol, pushing for legislation that would allow undocumented students living in California the opportunity to apply for state financial aid.

"I had to sacrifice a full ride," said Susan who did not want to give News10 her last name. "No one should have to go through what I went through."

Susan who came to the U.S. from South America when she was 7 years old, graduated from high school with a 4.3 grade point average and received more than $30,000 in scholarships, but she had to turn them down because of her immigration status.

Sen. Gil Cedillo from Los Angeles, the author of the measure, believes California needs to make this investment.

"California is the fifth largest economy in the world," said Cedillo. "We have to have an educated workforce to maintain our global competitiveness."

Cedillo claims the program will not take away scholarships from legal citizens.

"No student here would be bumped as a result of this new program," said Cedillo. "What we are doing is that, that money is being sent back to the state, that money should be invested in quality education for every Californian."

According to The California Student Aid Commission, nearly 266,000 awards were handed out this year at an estimated cost of nearly $810 million. Eighty-nine percent of them are entitlement awards, only 11 percent are competitive. Tom Mays from Cal Grants said the commission has not taken a position yet on the proposal.

But several Republicans have.

"It's a finite pool and it ought not be distributed to people who are not playing by the rules of California or immigrations rules," said Republican Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa.

"We've got working poor in California. We've got middle class in California who can't afford to send their kids to college ... they get no help so they don't get grants," said Republican Assemblyman Mike Villanes.

As the debate continues, Susan and other students are hoping legislators reach an agreement so that the Dream Act becomes reality.

"I'm doing this for my community," said Susan. "Why do don't you invest in the students who are here doing the best they can?"
http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=32205

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This was a really bad day to read this stupid story. Frankly, I have no humor for this. If there is anyone from these organization, I am sorry. No wait, I am not sorry! we are busting our butts for the passage of Dream and they are wasting precious news coverage in something that is never going to be a reality. It appears that I am the only old enough to remember who AB540 became law. Gray Davis was about to be receive the boot. He began to sign laws to either gather support from different groups or because he decided to leave with a bang. Anyways, we are poor, immigrants are usually poor. Still, we are not talking about in state tuition. I do not want to sound like certain guy from another forum but what would you rather have free college or a legal status?

tbh this is nothing new, its the same arguments since the beginning. thats why we gotta call call call!

"We've got working poor in California. We've got middle class in California who can't afford to send their kids to college ... they get no help so they don't get grants,"

IMO, college isn't just for everyone, up to high school it is, but higher education shouldnt be based on helping the needy but rewarding the brightest, if among those brighest there are needy ones, then help those of course, but it shouldnt just be cos they're poor, they need to show the initiative too.

I think a lot of senators realize that too. However people will scream unfair cos theyre citizens , but just cos theyre legal shouldnt mean free ride...work for it, the harder it is , the more youve earned it. Its not like immigrants are rich either.

I couldnt have put it better myself!!!

Isn't it the struggle that defines us?

I agree with everything every said. College is not for everyone, that might be the reason why only 1/4 of the country actually has a college degree. You have to work hard. I know that many undocumented students deserve to get FASFA. Still, while these ten students are fighting to get fee waivers from Community colleges. In many states peopleare fighting to take away in state benefits for undocumented students. It is all about timing. Their campaing is ill timmed. All the arguments of anti-immigrant groups are ridiculous at best. Yet, it is impossible to deal with a derange, ignorant mob. Many people believe that the Dream Act will allow students to get FASFA or other types of help but that is untrue. It would allow us to borrow money and do study work but no FASFA. They are screaming around, almost crying that we want free college education. In my personal experience, every person in my school thinks that the goverment gives me everything because I am brown. Over all they are not cool when they find out that I have to pay for books, college and transportation. They get angry at me, as if it is my damm fault that I shatter their racist beliefs that minorities have it better. This is at least to my understanding what we are fighting for: We do not want free college eduaction, even if we are dirt poor. We want a fair shot of making it big in this country. When someone claims that they want free education and the passage of Dream it sends the wrong signals. At least for the moment. In DAP, I have hear more than one person saying that we are fighting to get a shot to make our goals a reality, nothing less, nothing more. Gime a damn green card and five years and I'll do the rest Uncle Sam!

If God Forbid, say.. Dream Act doesn't pass, you can marry a U.S. citizen.. What do u say?

I say read the forum rules.

http://www.dreamact.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=363

Well, to me Dream is going to pass. I would not accept anything else...until it happends. If I had live by probabilities I would never have done anything with my life. Second, It is not as easy to marry a citizen and get your papers. Taskgirl is fighting to legalize the man she loves and married. She is a USA born citizen! Finally, this has nothing to do with this thread! Why do you quote me and then just ask something that has nothing to do with my posts. If you want to ask me a question directly just PM me. Just click the little thing that says PM and I will reply you SAP.

I agree, It is going to pass no if or buts, we have to think positively! Is it just me or is the anticipation overwhelming, the first thing i do when i wake up is think about dream and the senators i have to call to make this happen, everytime i think of dream my hearts skips a beat lol

the struggle is what makes us who we are i personally dont think that has anything to do with being legal or not, when u wrk for sumthing u appreciate it more rather than when its just given to u because u know all the hard wrk, labor and sweat u put into it.