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The dream act discussion
The dream act discussion
The education struggle for undocumented immigrants
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Undocumented students are becoming a growing outrage in the United States. It has been a constant battle amongst the students, the schools, and the Government. According to collegeboard.com, statistics shows that 65,000 undocumented students graduate from U.S. high schools each year (collegeboard.com).After graduating high school they face legal and financial barriers to higher education. This paper will address the importance of this growing outrage and discuss the following that corresponds to it.
• Definition of the term “ Undocumented Students”
• The three main obstacles for higher education (admission, tuition, and financial aid)
• Arizona’s new immigration law
• The D.R.E.A.M act
The term “undocumented students” is given to the children of foreign nationals who entered the United States legally with their families, but remained without an authorization. In some cases they have crossed the border illegally as children with their parents at a very young age, some as young as infants. These children have lived more years in the U.S. than their birth countries, and have attended K-12, and earning high school diplomas.
After graduating high schools most of these students will stumble upon the next phase of their educational plan as they are not able to continue toward higher education. The classic three main obstacles are (admission, tuition, and financial aid). Depending on what state they reside, there are strict laws preventing them from pursuing higher education. For example, in the state of Virginia where upon applying to school, a student must show legal presence (collegeboard.com).
The second obstacle is paying for school since they are not granted residence status. According to UCSC, the cost to attend higher ...
... middle of paper ...
...em are dropping out of high school to join gangs, or work under the minimum wage. Their dreams and hopes are all evaporated by the constant stress, and worry that they are not able to do anything about their future, even after post graduation. Many of these students who earn degrees in Engineering, and other well profound education are working at low income jobs (Cnn.com). The answer for this outrage is to pass the Dream Act and to make it into a reality.
Works Cited
Advising undocumented students. Retrieved from http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/financial-aid/undocumented-students
Bash, D. (2010, April 23). What does Arizona's immigration law do?. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/23/immigration.faq/index.html
Nick, AP. ( 2009, Dec 10). Advising undocumented students.
Retrieved frohttp://dreamact.info/students
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country. Along with them sneaking into the United States, there has also been a lot of disrespect and violence towards the undocumented immigrants. In reality, the American people don 't realize that these immigrants are in search of a better life in a country where they can live comfortably without being harassed by the corrupt government. There have also been children trying to sneak into the United States to avoid the corruption and frightening circumstances in Mexico. Undocumented immigrant students should not have limits on their education and should be treated with equality because it 's not fair to treat a student differently only because they were not born
Having the opportunity of staying in school is very important to illegal immigrants because that means they can realize the American Dream. It is something that every immigrant that comes to the U.S wants to achieve. By applying to the dream act illegal immigrants from the age of sixteen through thirty five can go to school. They are eligible to stay in school and or go to college if they have not done so. For example some of the immigrant students have immense talents that can be used for America’s assistance, but not being able to stay in school they can not succeed. “Thousands of young people have worked hard. But they are being denied that chance to build a better future for themselves and to contribute their skills, talents, and creativity to the country” (Duncan). By having the choice of staying in school, as well as the help it is more exciting to those students that want to become someone in life. Some of the illegal aliens possess some amazing talent...
After about twelve years of the DREAM Act floating around in congress, many people on both sides of the issue are unsure of what will happen. For some, the fact that it has been around for long without much progress means that the DREAM Act will not pass. On the other side of this issue, the dreamers, continue fighting to keep the DREAM Act alive, so that all the immigrant students can continue to post secondary education, and not have to stop their education at the end of 12th grade. These young immigrants were brought here when they were younger and have lived in the United States most of their life. They are known as dreamers because many of them cannot continue their education due to the barriers placed on them because of their undocumented status. Those who wish to continue to a post secondary education have to pay higher out-of-state tuition rates. The passing of the DREAM Act will provide a path to legalization for educated and dedicated individuals who will continue to contribute a lot to the U.S. economy and in many other ways. The majority of undocumented students were brought to the U.S. when they were small children, and they “should be allowed to have the chance to stay in the country call home” (Bennion).
In addition to spending more on the actual education and university fees, the international students also have to spend on boarding and food. Finding a place to stay that is conveniently near to the university and other places of interaction, is affordable, accepts immigrants, and suits the basic requirements - is hard, sometimes impossible. A compromise on at least one criterion of the above is required to sustain in the new country.
The students even plan on living here and starting their new lives with a viable career plan, maybe even start a family; but entrance into the US is a difficult process because you have to attain a visa and apply for a green card to remain in the states. People in underdeveloped countries wait for decades to finally have a chance in coming here and have better lives; back home they probably earn mediocre wages or don’t have the essential background to attain a job. In reference to the reverse brain drain, this phenomenon is called the brain drain. “Land of opportunity” has been one of the many motto’s America has lived by and that is why everybody is trying migrate into the US; but the people who received the chance to study and live in America are now planning on making a u-turn back to where they came from because America has failed to meet their expectations of a land of