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Call to Support Higher Education and Legalization for Young Immigrants
(jump ahead to printable materials)
June 24, 2002
RE: SUPPORTING HIGHER EDUCATION AND LEGALIZATION FOR YOUNG IMMIGRANTS
Dear Friend,
Please join us in supporting higher education and legalization for young immigrants. Legislation now pending in Congress can provide an opportunity for undocumented immigrant students to go on to college and to work without the fetter of a lack of legal status. This July 17 has been designated “Immigrant Student Day,” when supporters will gather in Washington, D.C. to visit legislators and plan further action on this important and timely issue.
Each year tens of thousands of young undocumented immigrants who have been educated in the U.S. are effectively barred from continuing their education. In a limited number of states, these students are able to attend college, but often cannot afford the in-state tuition, or the higher cost of out-of-state tuition imposed in some cases. At the same time, many of these students are not able to subsidize their own education because they lack the required work authorization. Additionally, because of status, they are not eligible to seek financial aid, work-study, or loans that require Social Security numbers, Legal Permanent Residency status, or U.S. citizenship. Their lives -- and futures -- are filled with uncertainty.
Under current law, most children are dependent on their parents for their immigration status and have no means of obtaining legal status even though in many cases have these young people have been raised and educated in the U.S. for many years. Additionally, federal law discourages states from providing in-state tuition or higher education assistance to these young people.
A number of state and local coalitions have formed to address these issues. New York, California, and Texas have passed laws to enable undocumented immigrant students to attend their state universities and colleges by paying in-state tuition. Meanwhile, legislation has been introduced in Minnesota, North Carolina, and Utah.
Senators Durbin (D-IL) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) have recently introduced the DREAM Act (S. 1291 -- Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors). In the House, Representative Chris Cannon (R-UT), Howard Berman (D-CA) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) have introduced the Student Adjustment Act (H.R. 1918). Briefly, this legislation in would allow undocumented immigrant young people who were brought here as children, grew up in the United States, have good moral character and have graduated from high school, to become legal residents, go to college and work here legally.
The National Network is coordinating with other national, state and local groups for the July 17 Immigrant Student Day and beyond. We would like to ask you to join us. Here's what can you do to contribute to this initiative:
1. You and/or your organization can endorse the campaign to urge passage of immigrant student adjustment that is fair and broad;
2. Send a message of support to your congressional representatives. A “diploma” for those messages is included here;
3. Participate in D.C. on July 17 (and 18) to educate legislators on the importance of promoting higher education and opportunity for all children;
4. Join local activities supporting Immigrant Student Day and other ongoing activities to address the issue;
5. Send a contribution to support work on this issue nationally. Immediately, we need contributions to help support a travel scholarship fund to help bring young immigrants to Washington to participate in the legislative activities.
Please consider how you can support the campaign, complete the following response form and fax it to our offices. And if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to call 510.465.1984 x304 or email cgomez@nnirr.org.
Sincerely,
Catherine Tactaquin
Executive Director
Claudia Gómez Arteaga
New Voices Fellow – Legalization Project
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