Education For A Better Future

Approximately 200,000 to 225,000 undocumented immigrants enroll in American institutions of higher education and represent 2 percent of all students in college (Suarez-Orozco, Katsiaficas, Birchall, Alcantar, & Hernandez, 2015). Undocumented students have low rates of enrollment to programs of higher education in comparison to documented students. When undocumented students begin college, they go through struggles to adapt and assimilate to college life. As a result of feeling disconnected to the campus they attend, undocumented students may look for different options for support, such as clubs and centers offered for students. In recent years, there have been legal changes set in place to support the success of undocumented students enrolled in higher education, which include in state tuition, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities. These changes have given undocumented students more choices and access to

I have the privilege of being a citizen of the United States therefore obtaining my degree is significantly easier for me than it is for undocumented

This paper will try to explain the variety of hardships many Mexican-American students endure in hopes to gain a higher education. Many are driven by the “American Dream”, which is the idea that individuals living in the U.S. have the equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and abilities. The American Dream often motivates foreigners to enter the United States illegally, hoping for that “equal opportunity” to success. However, not everyone living in the U.S. has equal opportunities, compared to native-born American citizens. This is why it can be difficult for Mexican-American students to attend colleges and universities. A higher education is difficult to obtain for Mexican-American students because of their low socioeconomic status, their differing cultural and structural characteristics, and the social and political institutions in our current society. Although this paper does not focus on the educational opportunities in Mexico, this paper will mostly focus on the educational system in the United States, particularly California State University, San Bernardino. In addition, this paper will refer to Mexican-American students as first-generation college students.

All Students, Regardless of Social Status, Race, Gender, or Minority, Have Equal Opportunity to Pursue a High Quality Education

In “Undocumented students’ Access to College: The American Dream Denied,” Chavez, Soriano and Olivia (2007) have stated that millions of students who live in United States are undocumented immigrants; most of them come to U.S at a very young age. They completed their high school and achieved great academic success, some of them even got admitted by well know universities. From 2002 onwards , Assembly Bill 540 (AB 540) , authorized by the late Marco Antonio Firebaugh , allows any student who has completed three years high school, and received a high school diploma or equivalent in California, regardless of their immigration status, are legally allowed to attend colleges and universities (Chavez,Soriano and Oliverez 256).Even though they are eligible to apply and be admitted to universities, but they are not eligible to apply for federal financial aid, without the help of financial aid, it is extremely difficult for them to afford tuition. In this case, it severely limits undocumented student’s chances for upward mobility.

The lack of money and federal aid makes it harder for undocumented students to have a higher education. There are many reasons for why these students are not able to afford college. Many come from low-income families who most likely do not have money saved up for their child’s education. The fact that they are undocumented prohibits them from receiving any form of federal aid. Undocumented students may also not be able to afford college because they do not have a decent paying job. Many people say that undocumented students should not receive

Being an undocumented college student can be very difficult, there are many economical and emotional barriers. College tuition doubles when you are undocumented and must be a resident of the state you’d like to attend school in. Some schools require you to be US born in other to attend the school. Fortunately, Deferred Action for Childhood

In 2001, Assembly Bill 540 (AB 540) passed in California allowing undocumented students, who met specific requirements, the opportunity to pay in-state level tuition at any, CSU, UC, of community college of California (Diaz, 2011). This new section of the California Education Code created an exemption for undocumented students who were required to pay non-resident fees. In order for undocumented students to benefit from the AB 540 Bill they must have met certain requirements which include, a) attended a California high school for 3 full years, b) will of have graduated from a California high school or received an equivalent of a diploma, c) must register or be

The DREAM Act plays a big role in the nation’s effort to have the highest proportion of graduates in the world by 2020 (Miranda). Allowing this to pass would reduce the drop out rate significantly all throughout the country. 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school every year. In Luis Miranda’s Get The Facts On The Dream Act, Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan has stated that passing the Dream Act will allow “these young people to live up to their fullest potential and contribute to the economic growth of our country.” It gives students the incentive to go through school and get a degree. When undocumented students are attending school, some colleges wont accept them. Knowing that, they do not have the drive or interest in pursuing a college degree. A lot of immigrants now will finish high school, get there diploma, then go find a job. Having this bill passed will change the education in the United States forever.

There are around 11.7 million illegal Mexican immigrants living in the United States. Today many of the teenagers of those immigrants are obtaining a free access to college education. [How are the illegals obtaining (getting) access to the free college?] On average a college education would cost a legal citizen going to a four-year college, which doesn’t include books, transport, and personal expenses can range from $107,000 to around $370,000. For example, there is a teenager named Indira Esparza, an illegal immigrant, graduated from University City in San Diego, California. She was able to secure a spot attending an expensive and exclusive private school, that is for the elite, with a full scholarship, $10,000 and other material. Esparza does not have to pay for books, transportation, and

Today there are twenty states that offer in-state tuition for unauthorized illegal immigrants. The path to becoming such states has been a difficult one; furthermore, only sixteen of these states have achieved in-state tuition for illegal immigrants by taking legislative action. The other four states allowed the universities autonomy developing their own system and guidelines (Undocumented, 2014). Arguments from opposing side generate authoritative statements. The opposing voices argue in-state tuition is only a magnet for illegal immigrants and unfair for American students from other states to pay higher tuition than illegal aliens. Supporters claim in-state tuition opens a door to a more educated society and ultimately states should protect the investment already made since childhood. In my opinion immigrants should be offered opportunities, but not at the expense of others.

The current public policy, the statues quo, is the first alternative. This policy allows undocumented students who have resided in Texas for at least 3 years, graduated from a Texas high school, and who sign an affidavit ensuring they will apply for legal status as soon as possible to attend colleges and universities in Texas while receiving state aid (“SB 1403 Bill Analysis”, 2001). This policy has benefited thousands of undocumented immigrants since it was first enacted in 2001. This policy does not reward the immigrants like many claim, but instead evens out the plaining field for children who were brought into the state and country at no fault of their own. Undocumented students who pursue higher education constitute a small group of extremely

Angela M. Banks states, “while a number of states prohibit undocumented students from being eligible for in-state tuition rates, only Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina prohibit these students from enrolling in public colleges and universities” (1425). While American students can pay in-state tuition to attend college. Again, immigrant students are not given the same privilege. Furthermore, immigrant students have a hard enough time getting into college, now they might not even be able to pay for it due to the fact they are not being treated like any other in-state student trying to better themselves. In all, children who have been brought to America as a child by their parents should be able to have the same rights as an American citizen. It only seems fair since they had no say on whether they wanted to come to America or

Enrollment within colleges will soon rapidly expand, and seeing as there is already low funding within school budgets, the money will need to come from somewhere. This is where tax payers come in, along with higher tuitions for students. American students that are not aided with the cost of classes and living expenses are going to be drastically affected, perhaps even to the point of dropping out. Over the years tuition has “Risen 6.5 percent from the previous year. These figures do not include room and board costs, which can cost as high as $1,700 a month at some schools” (Salary.com). Tuition is getting difficult for students to pay every year especially with the economic crisis the state of California is currently in. Aside from just tuition increasing, there will still not be enough funds to provide the aid to the undocumented immigrants that plan to enroll in school. “Each illegal immigrant who attends a public institution will receive a tuition subsidy from taxpayers of nearly $6,000 for each year he or she

Under the federal law schools are obligated to provide education to all children but should not question immigrant status. In the most recent studies there are more than 840,000 immigrant students in the United States. The Department of Education said that ALL children are entitled to an education, regardless of their parents, nationality