New Mexico Daily Lobo
URL: http://www.dailylobo.com/index.php/article/2009/09/dream_aims_to_improve_immigrants_educations
Current Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:49:25 -0700
Article Tools
Use the form below to share this article via email.
Students hang a sign supporting the DREAM Act at Smith Plaza on Wednesday. The DREAM Act aims to give undocumented high school graduates a chance at higher education, as long as they don’t have criminal records.
Possibly Related:
DREAM aims to improve immigrants’ educations
Over a dozen student groups organized a demonstration at Smith Plaza Wednesday in an effort to get student signatures in support of the DREAM Act.
The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act would grant young, undocumented immigrants the ability to further their education, so long as they have graduated from a U.S. high school and don’t have a criminal record.
The Raza Graduate Students Association, El Centro de la Raza and the Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity were among the groups at the demonstration.
Christopher Ramirez, spokesman for RGSA, said as many as 65,000 U.S. high school graduates are undocumented, and it’s difficult for them to get post-graduation education.
“They have limited opportunities for their future in terms of higher education and getting a job because they cannot legally work in the United States,” Ramirez said. “What the DREAM Act would do is provide a pathway to permanent residency for students that want citizenship.”
The legislation has received criticism from the Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee.
According to ALI-PAC’s Web site, the organization is prepared to fight the bill every step of the way.
“This legislation will harm American students and families while rewarding illegal aliens,” William Gheen, President of ALI-PAC said on the Web site. “It will cost taxpayers billions of dollars and provide another big incentive for people to illegally immigrate to the United States.”
Student Oscar Maldonado said the criticism stems from a misunderstanding.
“People are scared of it because they think that it applies to everyone, every single immigrant, but if you read the document you realize that it is actually very specific,” he said.
Student Julie Merler-Smith said that she is in favor of the DREAM Act thanks to the demonstration at the Plaza.
“I like that the act is supporting kids that have grown up here and are law-abiding and want to make something of themselves, (helping them) to obtain higher education if they desire to, as well as citizenship,” she said.
Maldonado said passing the DREAM Act would improve America’s standing in the rest of the world.
“There are intelligent students here who could be the future doctors, future nurses that are here learning, but once they are done they cannot apply what they have learned in a job,” Maldonado said. “The students walking by are the future.
These are who the senators and representatives are here to represent. The people walking here — this is what America is.”*Sign the DREAM Act Petition
Front Desk of El Centro de la Raza
Mesa Vista Hall*
- Think outside the race box, Arizona 9 comments
- Western foreign policy responsible for bombs 10 comments
- Protesters challenge driver’s license legislation 7 comments
- Lobo belittles instead of supporting readership 14 comments
- Lottery Scholarship fund may run out by 2014 21 comments
- GOTB on Think outside the race box, Arizona
It's politically correct and OK to speak about ... - philliphowel on If teachers should be paid in satisfaction, so should CEOs
Lily, the old saw is "you cannot make a silk ... - philliphowel on Legislators debate how to spend budget surplus
POST, I will tip my wine glass to you for a simple ... - Lily on Think outside the race box, Arizona
I agree with this. I have a lot of negative feelings ... - Lily on If teachers should be paid in satisfaction, so should CEOs
Teacher pay should go up. Teachers are not respected ...
- UNM Crime Briefs 16 hours ago
- Website facilitates men’s basketball ticket trades 16 hours ago
- Legislators debate how to spend budget surplus 16 hours ago
- Women break losing streak 17 hours ago
- Davie: 2012 recruits to turn team around 17 hours ago
Upcoming Events
5:00 pm | Lobo Campus Civitan Club
10:00 am | Open House
9:45 am | Sanskrit Course (free)
7:00 pm | Werewolf The Forsaken
3:30 pm | Philosophy Colloquia
6:00 pm | GPSA Grants Workshop
9:00 am | Student Health Insurance Enrollment Deadline
9:00 am | UNM Career Expo
10:00 am | Super Bull
The Independent Voice of University of New Mexico since 1895
The Daily Lobo is published by the students of the University of New Mexico. Please visit our About Us page for contact information.
©2012 New Mexico Daily Lobo
60 comments
Tim Serna
Flag this comment
This was a great event that educated a lot of students about the DREAM Act and cleared up a lot of misunderstandings. I hope that many students will come to El Centro de la Raza to sign the petition in support of the DREAM Act.
Stephen
Flag this comment
The DREAM Act is a backwards attempt at amnesty. Rewarding illegal families for breaking our laws is immoral and wrong. You say the kids were innocent and can’t be held accountable. What you fail to point out is these kids will be like anchor babies. They’ll be able to sponsor the same criminal parents once they become legal. I say send them back and immigrate legally or not at all. ZERO tolerance to all illegal immigration. The DREAM Act is a nightmare to Americans.
slowhike
Flag this comment
The kids are innocent, however the parents are not. This is yet another vivid illustration of UNM’s dedication to blend with Mexico. This undertow of sympathy for illegal immigrants is lawless and embarrassing. UNM should be ashamed of itself, however, UNM is controlled by powerful proponents of illegal immigrants, democrats like Richardson, Chavez and Sanchez are long time supporters of welfare and have effectively used the illegal immigrants to bolster their voting roles. If the legal citizens of NM do not wake up and counter this surge UNM and other organizations will continue to pave the way for more uneducated, unskilled illegal citizens to move into New Mexico. Having babies, on the other hand, does not take any skill or education; in fact there’s a correlation between the number of births and the low socioeconomic and education of parents.
mateo
Flag this comment
Love how they rationalize giving away our freedoms to illegal aliens. First off there are plenty of kids right here that could be doctors, lawyers, or politicians if they had the opportunity to attend a university like UNM. Unfortunately they can’t. They don’t have the money, their familys (while not considred poor) make just enough money to limit the financial assistance opportunitites available. They may come from familys that have alot of children, and they don’t want to be aburden on their parents. Either way these people are left behind and they’re our own citizens. Don’t they deserve more opportunties than some criminals?
There already exists an opportunity for these immigrant teenagers to gain citizenship. Go serve in the military. If they serve their four years in defense of our freedom, than they can become citizens. What’s wrong with that??
MadMommy
Flag this comment
This is a bad dream for every student, teacher and administrator in our school systems.
Illegal immigrants aren’t permitted to work in this country. Why should we subsidize their education? So they can work here illegally and send their money out of the country tax free? What are these people thinking?
Read more …
Stop the magnet that draws millions of illegal immigrants here for the golden ticket to social services and free education in this country. Stop giving them the benefits of American citizenship without any requirement to follow the laws that govern everyone else.
Enforce the laws in the 1986 amnesty and they will go home. Deportation by attrition.
Advocate54
Flag this comment
Obviously, the anti-Mexican lobby is trying to hijack this excellent article about legislation that should be passed, and passed quickly.
You cannot blame kids and young adults for the sins of their parents when they were brought here, some in diapers, others in their adolescent years, without the knowledge they were breaking any law, and a civil misdemeanor at that.
Read more …
These kids LEARNED THE LANGUAGE, ASSIMILATED, and are as AMERICAN as any of us, except for that little 9 digit number. Many are in school studying for advanced degrees, with little hope of using their education once they graduate, and they are not receiving federal or state assistance of any kind. That is dedication, and should be rewarded with passage of the DREAM ACT. The systems broken people.
I would also point out that Willy Gheen of ALIPAC, or as it is known in polite circles, ALICRAP,is not the spokesman for any movement. Gheen is a scam artist who uses the immigration debate to scam his decreasing followers of their hard earned cash, by making promises with his alligator mouth, that his hummingbird ass cannot cash. He does this to allow him to live the lifestyle he chooses and his FEX filings confirm this allegation
His small organization (himself and 3 others) are closely aligned with mainstream hate groups such as FAIR,NUMBERSUSA and Mark Kikorkian’s CIR, all of which have made the immigration debate into a tirade against Hispanics. sort of a polyester version of the old KKK.
People would be well served to educate themselves on the facts, and not the fiction that the nativist mexenophobes throw in your face.
http://immigrationclearinghouse.org
Beast
Flag this comment
Before any consideration of the DREAM Act is given, how about those children pay back the free education they got with our tax payer dollars. Yes every single penny for grades K-12, with interest. But not just the money for that, how about all the welfare the families of these children received, along with government assistance, and healthcare they used while here. Should they pay for all that that is due, then perhaps it can be considered.
Ted
Flag this comment
Beast:
How about we learn where money comes from that funds k-12 education?
Read more …
Most of this money comes from property taxes, taxes that EVERYONE pays regardless of their legal status.
If an undocumented immigrant owns a house then they are paying yearly property taxes = funds for k-12 education for their kids.
If an undocumented immigrant renting an apartment then they are paying property taxes through the landlord, just as any citizen living in an apartment would.
All people, legal or not, pay property taxes, i.e. = K12 Education.
Come up with a better talking point please, this one is getting old.
Kevin
Flag this comment
“These kids LEARNED THE LANGUAGE, ASSIMILATED, and are as AMERICAN as any of us, except for that little 9 digit number. Many are in school studying for advanced degrees, with little hope of using their education once they graduate, and they are not receiving federal or state assistance of any kind. That is dedication, and should be rewarded with passage of the DREAM ACT. The systems broken people.”
These kids have not assimilated. They are taught that we are the illegals in their ancestral homeland. They wave the Mexican flag in our faces and act as if we owe them everything. Sorry but the only things they deserve are the things they work for. Unfortunately their illegal presence undermines everything they work for. Their parents should have worked on becoming citizens first.
The only thing I continue to see are outstreched hands grabbing at the teats of the American Tax Payers!
Kevin
Flag this comment
So Ted, do they also pay income tax? Do they pay all the taxes that a citizen pays? I think not. Just because they pay some taxes does not make them eligible for all the benefits granted to a U.S. citizen.
ratbstard
Flag this comment
“People would be well served to educate themselves on the facts” (advocate54)
If this ‘Nightmare’ were to become law IAs would be placed ahead of American children according to the UNM policy 3100: 4. Affirmative Action
Read more …
Further, the University commits itself to a program of affirmative action to increase access by, and participation of, traditionally underrepresented groups. The University Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) provides guidance and assistance to University departments in the development of recruitment strategies to assist with affirmative action efforts. OEO also directly oversees faculty hiring processes and conduct audits of both faculty and staff hiring processes to ensure compliance with OEO and affirmative action policies and practices.
8. Responsibility for Affirmative Action Plan
The University President has overall responsibility for the Affirmative Action Plan. All senior and mid-level administrators (vice presidents, deans, directors, department heads) are accountable for their performance in the accomplishment of affirmative action objectives. Annual performance evaluations shall include an assessment of the results of programs and practices aimed at increasing access and participation by women and ethnic/racial minorities.
__________
alipac, FAIR and Numbers USA are not hate groups, they advocate for Americans by Birth or Legal Immigration!
Anchor babies are not citizens by birth, they are citizens by misinterpretation of the 14th Amendment. This misinterpretation will be corrected!
c. foster
Flag this comment
The myth that illegal immigrants, or anyone else for that matter, pay property taxes through rent is just that. A MYTH! Renters pay RENT! Your RENT buys you 30 day increments of time to keep a place to store your stuff, keep you and your family out of the elements, entertain your friends, etc… Your rent money is the medium of exchange for the privilege of staying there. Property taxes are paid by the owner of said property, whether you stay there or not! The property can remain vacant, but the municipality still collects taxes from the OWNER! Paying rent cannot be equated to paying property taxes. They are two entirely different revenue sources and applications!!
P Henry
Flag this comment
They are Illegal Aliens. Calling them “immigrants” is a calculated move designed to confuse the lawbreakers with those who came here legally.
MdeG
Flag this comment
The kids didn’t make the decision. Their parents did. Let them study. Non citizen students, even legal ones, don’t get federal work study, many forms of financial aid, etc.
DREAM would let kids who fulfill its requirements go on to be legal residents. So the claim that they’d be unable to work after college is untrue.
Read more …
As for “anchoring” family members: In order to petition for a relative you have to provide years worth of docmentation. Income tax returns, job letters, bank statements, all to prove that you can support your relative at 150% of the poverty rate. New legal residents spend their first 5 years ineligible for almost all government benefits, and the petitioner is on the hook for that time. Most recent college graduates can’t do this right away, even for one person.
Then, if the law stays as it is: Anyone who’s come here without papers and been undocumented for over a year has to return home to file for a visa. And once they leave the country, they’re barred for 10 years.
So let’s say DREAM is passed, and nothing else changes. A couple of years after college — having probably had to go part-time due to no financial aid — the DREAMer gets to petition for her Dad. Dad has to go home, and 10 years later they can start the process. Which in itself takes a good many years. One parent might get petitioned in after 15 years. This is not exactly a demographic flood.
As for taxes, lots of undocmented folks pay on ITINs. If you own property you pay the same taxes anyone else does. And if you rent, and your landlord doesn’t calculate the rent to cover property tax, then your landlord’s not very bright. Sales tax and excise are also paid by everyone.
Americana
Flag this comment
The DREAM Act is just another sham for amnesty. If this passes, the age limit is way to high and the illegals would be able to legalize their whole families as well. This has failed to pass several times for good reason and it will fail again. People are just fed up with the illegals and their DEMANDS for rights they are just not entitled to. If they want the perks of citizenship then do it the right way. Being in this country illegally and breaking laws will never win supporters or respect.
k
Flag this comment
Illegal immigrants are illegal immigrants, whether their parents came here and they paid property taxes to fund education or not. They are still here unlawfully. This shouldn’t be tolerated. Why don’t we focus on furthering the education of the students that are already here, that grew up here legally!
Alexandre Rogozine
Flag this comment
It seems that some people do not realize that there is an IMMENSE different between a legal immigrant and an illegal immigrant.
One was selected for a good reason to come here (such as being picked for a good paying position), one was not. One was screened and checked out by FBI and whatnot, one was not. One waited for 8 – 20 years for citizenship, while the other waved around a Mexican flag and demanded amnesty.
Read more …
I am offended by any such action.
Womby
Flag this comment
It was not these minors’ decisions to immigrate to the US, and they should not be punished for it! They are as American as the rest of us, and have bright promise in this country. Why would we want to expel talented and smart young people? Pass the Dream Act!
Brittanicus
Flag this comment
There should be emphasis on E-Verify being adopted by every business in America, mandatory or not? Now that it’s locked into the US workers psyche, it should be evident to the pro-illegal immigrant groups that—THE PEOPLE—are not letting go of this computer illegal immigrant enforcement application without a fight. It has been ridiculed and ostracized by the US Chamber of Commerce and subjected to federal lawsuits by the anti-sovereignty groups as the ACLU. I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but when the Council of Foreign Relation intolerable globalist and internationalists get involved with America’s immigration face-off, you really wonder what their true agenda is? GOOGLE— across the Internet and understand their plan for the free flow of low income labor in every available industry including Agricultural jobs.
This quasi agency was the machine involved with the inception of NAFTA. Coincidentally, I recall that President Obama and his administration addressed the general public that he would renegotiate the treaties of NAFTA and CAFTA? So far this has not materialized, nor has his promise to implement an open transparent government? He is following the same illusory lines as the Bush presidency, other than National security—remaining secretive?
Read more …
E-Verify is a very powerful immigration tool that is a composite of the SAVE ACT. Around the country it’s building in momentum as more and more companies are intending to use it? It could additionally have multiple future uses, including detecting illegal aliens applying for driver’s licenses. It could also be adapted to apprehend any foreign nationals who apply in any health care reform or any other government benefit. By overturning the 1986 Immigration legislation and enacting a new AMNESTY the American population lose culturally and financially. Another possibility is checking the status of individuals admitted to higher education or schools. Its availability is a free service on the web, by accessing both Homeland Security and the Social Security databases. On an ongoing basis it is seemingly the principle tool to detour anybody who is stealing jobs from the legal population.
It almost succumbed to Democratic leadership, because both Sen Reid and Pelosi had an ulterior motive to kill E-Verify and other immigration enforcement weapons. Having massive illegal immigrant occupation in both Nevada and California and an escalating need to financially support the millions already thriving in all Border States. YOU CAN HELP AMERICAN WORKERS IN THIS JOBLESS SETTINGS AND HALT ANY NEW AMNESTY BY CONTACTING YOUR POLITICIANS AT 202-224-3121. NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIAL WATCH & CAPSWEB have many of the true answers for you to decide.
slowhike
Flag this comment
I commend the common sense of the majority of these posts. It’s interesting how the few that seem to favor illegal immigration want to refer to this discussion as a racial issue with Hispanics. This is the old, “it just doesn’t cut it anymore” line of rebuttal. It’s ludicrous to throw any resources at illegal immigrants or their kids while there are children who are US American citizens. The welfare system has gone so far in the wrong direction that hard working citizens often fair worse than the those that leech off the taxpayers.
The funds state side illegal immigrants send back to Mexico is HUGE. Few if any own property, and if they do own property that would raise many questions. IT’S COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT THE DEMOCRATIC STRATEGY IS TO STACK VOTES THROUGH VVOLUMES OF POOR THAT THEY FUNNEL MONEY TO.
Read more …
For those of you that are tired and weary of your tax dollars being given away w/o your permission to people who are not even US citizens you can vote republican in every election. There not a helluva lot you can do when the Democratic leaders in NM underwrite the illegal immigration traffic.
yomama
Flag this comment
Everyone breaks the law…so stfup!
A college education is not granted at birth, so all the red necks should work harder to compete with the smart hard-working illegals. So don’t compolain about immigrants taking your kid’s seat, tell your lazy ass kid to drop the video games and start cracking books!!!
Read more …
It’s that simple, that’s why the U.S can’t compete with Japanese or Korean kids, fat ass American kids get a free ride all their life.
Tony Rivas
Flag this comment
Please have mercy, we don’t deserve this country but a little help from you all would make a bif difference in improving our life. Amnesty is a form of freedom
Patriot
Flag this comment
I proudly support the Dream Act. Education is critically important. We should encourage all Americans and all people who love America to complete their education. Think of the value they will bring to our future generations. Think of the Doctors, Teachers, Business Professionals that will contribute their knowledge and skills to all Americans in our future.
So much value!
True USA
Flag this comment
The Dream Act – Education – The Great Equalizer:
Education, then, beyond all other devices of human origin … the great equalizer of the conditions of men – the balance-wheel of the social machinery. It does better than to disarm the poor of their hostility toward the rich; it prevents being poor.
Read more …
Support the Dream Act for these talented young students.
For ALL of our futures!
Christian Conservative
Flag this comment
I too support the Dream Act. Education is so important. As someone just said, it is, in fact, the great equalizer.
For all of you who say you are Christian, remember: “Whatsoever you do to the least of My brethren, that you do unto Me.”
Read more …
Think of your Humanity. We live in the land of immigrants. Do not turn away the little children. Education is so important! Education is the key to all the fate of the world.
Comments are closed for this item.