The Legislative Movement : Subsidize The College Education Of Texas

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.

It is said that in 2013 almost 2 percent of all college students in Texas were once undocumented immigrants and received help from the Texas Dream Act. Out of those 2 percent over 70 percent attended community colleges as expected and the rest attended a total of two different

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 first state to adopt a law allowing undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at public universities was Texas. This law is so-called “The Dream Act.” To qualify for this act an immigrant student must have graduated high school or received a GED in Texas, must live in the state for three years, and sign an affidavit confirming that they are seeking legal residency. According to the Education Commission of the States, since 2001, Washington, Utah, Oklahoma, New York, New Mexico, Kansas, Illinois, and California have adopted similar laws. Some conservative Texas legislators have filed to repeal The Dream Act. Their opinion is that it is unfair to legal U.S. citizens from other states that are required to pay out-of-state tuition. This act also requires taxpayers to pay higher education costs for undocumented immigrants. Others argue that many come to America through no choice because their parents illegally came to the country. They believe it is unfair to punish the students for their parents’ decisions. Bills that have tried to take away the Texas Dream Act have failed thus far. ("Tribpedia: Dream Act | The Texas Tribune." The Texas Tribune. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 July 2015.)1

The Texas Senate Bill 1819 would repeal a 2001 HB 1403 that allows illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. The Bill was proposed by Texas State Sen. Donna Campbell, who feels, “We need to direct our resources first and foremost to the legal residents of Texas.” The current law allows illegal alien students who have lived in Texas for at least three years that pledge to apply for legal status, to pay in-state tuition rates. Bill 1819 would terminate this law and let universities establish a policy to, “verify to the satisfaction of the institution” that a student is a legal resident or citizen. It would affect all illegal immigrant students applying to Texas Colleges and Universities.

Significance: Since 2001, state legislatures have been battling over the issue of whether or not to provide undocumented students, who have lived in this country for many years, a chance at a low-cost college education.

An issue that immigrants face is paying for the cost of college. According to the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services, DACA does not give citizenship or student aid. Students who go to college with grants, scholarship, or loans will still have to pay a higher cost in tuition. Although the Dream Act may seem beneficial, according to the American Immigration council, it has yet not become a law and does not offer financial

In my opinion, undocumented immigrants should not be allowed to pay in-state tuition rates. It will not be fair for students who is legally living in United State in general and in Texas as residents for less than a year because they still pay- out of state tuition for their first year. I myself am an example for this because, in my first year in college, I have to pay out of state tuition with my own money. College students like me have to go through many processes before we are allowed to pay in-state tuition. More than that, the parents have to pay taxes in order to provide education benefits for their children. Now, we have to share our benefits with undocumented immigrants who do not contribute anything to our society. It is not a right thing to me. In-state tuition is a reward for undocumented immigrants who

Some of these laws typically require attendance and graduation at state high schools, acceptance at a state college or university, and promising to apply for legal status as soon as eligible. At least four state university systems the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, University of Michigan Board of Regents, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and Rhode Island’s Board of Governors for Higher Education established policies to offer in-state tuition rates to unauthorized immigrant students.(NCSL, July 2015), many of the youth people on DACA are on these universities and paying low tuitions, but some states do not respect their legal status situation and have been forced to pay international tuitions, something that is not right for many of them.

The majority of students in the U.S. are in an endeavor to continue higher education. Most students will end up taking student loans that will take years and even decades to pay back. But, in a country where higher education is needed to succeed in a competitive job market, the debacle arises as to what happens to those who aren’t citizens trying to continue unto higher learning. Certain laws have prevented undocumented students from attending universities because of a rise in immigration. However, to those students that had no say in arriving, they now seem stuck in the crossfire of uncertainty. Many believe giving financial aid to the undocumented is a gateway to flash flood migration.“Allowing illegal immigrant students to pay in-state college

With education being the number priority and the reason why many immigrants came to the United States, but with many organizations have been helping many immigrants in achieving their citizenship, but also helping students with scholarships with non-profit foundation, meaning that the no federal organization gave them money with no strict requirements about their status in the U.S to get this scholarships. An organization located here is here in Texas that is called the North Texas Dream Act which helps millions immigrants that still don’t have legal status yet and helps them in many ways by giving funds and scholarships to students that are in need to find money to finish their career and start a good life. Other ways of achieving funds to pay for tuition at certain college or universities by receiving in state tuition that is based on financial aid but the requirement aren’t very crucial they just to live in the state for two years and graduated from high school or got a GED. For example Texas has the application Texas Application for State financial aid and many don’t even know it exists being that it existed for more than a decade. If parents were to leave and be deported the student

As time passes the majority of undocumented students graduate high school and head to the next level of their education, but the majority of these students fear on applying the college of their choice. Furthermore, colleges in the United States does not allow an undocumented student to fulfill his or her hopes of continuing education. This initially leads students to give up pursuing their education to work at places that do not require a degree. In few cases, some students are given the chance to study at a college, but most students can not afford to pay the classes. (Nothing is free for the students unless they are documented in the United States . Something acquired throughout the years that the student had an opportunity to continue their studies) (I 'm lost). The government passed an act called the “Dream Act”, which allow students to apply to any college of their choice. There is a catch, the government will not give financial aid and not allowed a student to loans. This is a challenge for students because the majority of them wonder how can they for that price. Although many students apply for jobs it’s still not enough to pay for the tuition. However, students realize that it is time to make a stand and make a statement, they should be allowed to have financial aid. As of right now, students are protesting, creating a march, and doing action in their own political ways.

The bill would place each state's citizens in direct competition with adult illegal aliens for limited slots and tuition benefits” (Elbel). Educating an illegal immigrant is and should be more important than the money spent on students who do not want an education.

As time passed on, majority of undocumented student graduate high school and head to the next level of their studies. But the majority of these college students fear is applying there choice of college. The majority of the colleges in the United States does not accept undocumented student hopes of continuing education. This initially leads students to give up pursuing their education to work at places that do not require a degree. Although some student are given the chance to study at their college, most of them can not afford to pay the classes. Nothing is free for the students unless they are documented in the United States. But something acquired throughout the years that the student had an opportunity to continue their studies. The

In United States twenty out of the fifty states are offering undocumented students the chance for in-state tuition. “Five of those states (California, Washington, Texas, New Mexico, and Minnesota) are going as far as offering undocumented students financial aid”. In order for those undocumented students in those twenty states to be granted these benefits they must first qualify and meet the states requirements. Although some states may