Concerned School Counselor

I am not Latino. I do not pretend to understand the daily struggles that my Latino students and friends go throgh. I am willing and able to provide whatever information I can, to whomever I can, as often as I can. I am willing to learn from the Latino community. I would like to complete research on Latinos within the American school system. Until today, I'd never really thought about whether my Latino students would be allowed to matriculate into a college, university, trade school, community college, whatever.

Today, my 14 year old 8th grade student provided me with an education.
The conversation went something like this....

DG: Mrs. CC, you know how we're talking about going to high school, college, and what kind of careers we like?

CC: Yeah?

DG: Well, a lot of us can't go.

CC: Baby, yes you can. Anyone can go to college if they do what they are supposed to do in middle school and high school. You may get a scholarship or a loan, or something. You just have to want to go.
DG: No. We don't have our papers, so we can't go to college. My cousin is in 12th grade, and she has to move back to Mexico to go to college because she doesn't have her papers.

CC: Oh, sweetheart, I never thought about. I knew your parents didn't have their papers, but I just assumed you were born here.

DG: No, Person A, Person B (and the list of students continues) don't have their papers either. I don't know about the other Latinos, but I know the Mexicans here who dont' have their papers. Even if we make good grades and get into magnet schools we can't go to college. [I'd just recommended that this particular student apply for one of the local magnet schools].

CC: Are there any good colleges in Mexico?

DG: I don't know. But I don't want to go there to go to college.

CC: I know sweetie. You were born there, but you grew up here. This is home for you. I honestly don't know. I'm going to have to do some research and get back to you. Worst case, we can at least begin to look at what colleges Mexico has to offer, and find out which ones are the best. Or maybe, you can get a student visa. I just don't know.

DG: Okay.

CC: I'm sorry. I just don't know what else to tell you.


So this was the conversation I had about two hours ago. Once I got home, I spoke with a friend who I thought could help me. She told me about the DREAM Act.

I feel like crying for this student and every other student who is going through the same thing. I now understand why some of my students have no motivation to do well in, or even attend, school. What's the point when your hardwork doesn't pay off. We require all students, illegal immigrants or not, to attend school until they are 18 years old. We tell them the reward will be graduating from high school, then going off to college, and finally getting that dream job. The dream is a lie for some. We snatch it away before they even have a chance.

I empathize with all of you.
If you have any suggestions on what I can say to my Latino students, or what I can do with my Latino students that would be helpful, I am up for any and all suggestions.

Thanks for listening.

You can help by raising awareness of the importance of the DREAM Act.

But we're all very cautious with our legal status [or lack thereof], so you should advice your students to be less open about passing out names of friends who have no papers.
They might tell the wrong people.

In which state of the country are you located? Some states allow undocumented immigrant students to obtain in-state tuition, while there are some that don't. (The majority don't). There are some that do. The Dream Act would first of all help all undocumented immigrant students obtain conditional permanent residency.

I've known my students for 3 years. They understand my support of the Latino community. I don't think she just goes around telling people's status. Besides, as a counselor, she knows I am ethically obligated to keep our conversations private, and I can only discuss them if I do not reveal identities (unless hurt, harm, or danger is involved).

My state does not allow this option. The friend that I spoke with about the situation gave me a list of states.

Look for privately funded scholarships, I'm also in a state that doesn't give undocumented students in-state tuition, however thanks to a privately founded scholarship I will be graduating in December. The road is much more tougher for undocumented students but there is a little narrow path of opportunity with these privately funded scholarships and with the Dream Act. Also vote for Obama as he supports the dream act and has expressed that this is something that must be passed right away. On the other hand McCain says that he wants what his supporters want: enforcement first before ANY kind of immigration benefit for people that are already here. This includes the Dream Act (which is pretty sad by the way).

Is there a possibility that when attempting to register for school that a student can be denied and then forced to leave because INS has been contacted? I know for me, I don't care about the immigration status of my students. I will help whomever comes into my doorway.

Guys, please forgive my ignorance... I'm just asking you some of the questions my student asked me (or made me think of).

Welcome to the forum. It is a genuine pleasure to have an educator here. You are the same people who we come to for support everyday all across the country and we are grateful for all the advice and help our counselors provide. Though, there can only be a legislative solution to our dilemma, it is incredibly uplifting to have the education community support our efforts to pass the DREAM Act.

Legally, schools--including colleges--are not allowed to report undocumented students. Illegal immigrants who enroll in college sign up as non-residents and pay the higher fees.