DREAM Act on to governor’s office
Reynal Guillen
President Mohammad Jehangir speaks at a ALAS (Association of Latin American Students) meeting to ask for phone bank support of the Dream Act.
Fatou Samb, Valerie Serrano and Katherine Ruiz helped report this story
September 20, 2011
Filed under News
Governor Jerry Brown will soon decide the fate of the second part of the highly contentious California DREAM Act bill AB 131, which has put the state in the national debate concerning immigration.
The proposed bill would give undocumented students in California access to state scholarships and loans for college, which they are currently denied. The bill was introduced Jan. 11, by assemblyman Gil Cedillo, and is awaiting the governor’s signature to become law.
Opponents of the bill maintain that spending should be focused on important items such as infrastructure and job creations, and that the DREAM Act’s proposed funding should be a low priority. Supporters say that undocumented students need this access in order to pursue their goals of a college education.
“It’s incumbent upon us to provide these education services, because if we don’t, we’re going to create a subclass in America,” said assemblyman Cedillo, author of the bill and one of its prime supporters. “America is a democracy. [...] if we create a subclass, it is going to be a subclass of illiterates who are going to be a burden on social services and be prone to criminal activity. There’s no benefit to us. We want people to be productive and constructive.”
Supporters of the bill say that state funded scholarships and loans are a significant means for financing costly college fees, and thus blocking undocumented students from having access to such crucial funds reduces their prospects for college education.
Meanwhile opponents feel that offering state-funded scholarships to illicit individuals is an unwise allocations of already limited resources.
“Until California is able to get its fiscal house in order, the State should focus its limited resources on vital services and resist the temptation to obligate itself to additional expenditures resulting from implementation of the DREAM Act,” said Michael J. Fell, Vice Chairman of Westside Republicans, in an e-mail sent to the Corsair.
Advocates insist that undocumented immigrants who have consistently shown exemplary behavior and are good students must not be the ones to suffer the consequences of the system; that they should be given the right to pursue their educational goals with the assistance of government grants as they have the constitutional right to education.
“It’s shocking to hear people say that undocumented students don’t have rights! In the area of education, undocumented students are equal to all other students. The rule of law actually protects undocumented students,” said Cedillo. “They’ve paid into the system like everybody else!”
Santa Monica College is arguably the most cosmopolitan campus in the state; therefore, the DREAM Act is an important piece of legislation that holds the fate of a broad spectrum of its students.
“I think that community colleges were designed as open-access institutions. The more we can do to create access for all the students of California, the better off we are. To extend the DREAM Act expands our capacity to be an open-access institution,” said political science professor, Eric Oifer.
The first portion of the DREAM Act AB 130, permitting undocumented students the ability to get privately funded financial aid, was already passed on July 20. Since the DREAM Act has gained more public attention, Governor Brown is further pressured to make a decision, which will be sure to leave one side disappointed.
This article was edited to coincide with the article that was published in the Corsair’s Sept, 21 print issue.
PASS AB 131!!
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This article tried to be balanced, but it didn’t succeed. It seems that we are being extorted that if AB 131 does not get signed, then we will have a permanent underclass of surly thugs and criminals. So, we are urged to give free aid and money to ILLEGAL ALIEN STUDENTS, who, if they do pursue a higher education, cannot be legally employed here. Wouldn’t that create a more surly and frustrated group?
ILLEGAL ALIEN STUDENTS are NOT protected by rule of law. They are NOT US citizens and have no rights under the US Constitution. Since most of them are of age, they can choose to start the path of Legal citizenship, migrate to another country, or stay here as a permanent second-class person. It’s their choice as a Federal DREAM Act will probably never happen that would grant them (another) blanket amnesty.
No one seems to talk about the surly, frustrated underclass of the working and middle class of US Citizens. They are the ones that would foot this bill and they are the ones that are being displaced and will and have lost their financial support and placements in higher education.
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Rosario Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 11:59 am
You should correct your wording, we are undocumented. Not illegal, no human being can be illegal. I don’t know what news readings you’re reading but all I hear about are about the ‘middle’ class and the constant struggle. We the DREAMers are constantly being put on hold, rarely are we ever given a broad audience to state our case.
I’ve been here for 21 years and am now 26. There is no pathway that you speak of, our pathway is to go back to a place that’s foreign to us and attempt to gain access from there which will take 10+years.
We are hardworking and contribute just as much to the economy as US Citizens. I work two jobs and pay well over $100 in taxes every week. Somehow I still manage to take 10 units at my community college. I don’t take any assistance from the government, I am an asset to this country. So are the other 11 million undocumented people.
The 1 million that I represent which are the DREAMers are American in every way just not in documentation. We are good people who were put in unfortunate circumstances. We were born in places in which there is no work or means of surviving. My parents made a decision that I feel any person would in their situation, they fled to a place in which we could earn basic human rights, housing, food and an education.
Once I receive my Bachelors, I will turn myself in and request Citizenship in another first world country. I won’t continue to live in a country that refuses to acknowledge my presence, of a country in which I love so much and contribute so much to that will not assist me providing a pathway for legal residency.
I know a lot of DREAMers that feel the same way, you seem to forget that we are also consumers. Yank us out of the economy and you are yanking out 12 million folks who spent their money in this country. You are yanking 12 million people from paying their taxes, you are yanking out labor. It’ll be the day I see the fields full of white families. -Ro
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Don Honda Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 12:36 pm
If you read the title and the contents of AB 13, the California DREAM Act–Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors, you will find the words, ILLEGAL and ALIEN. If you don’t want to identify with ILLEGAL ALIENS, then I guess this Bill is not for you. See the Bill at:
http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/AB_131/20112012/
“Once I receive my Bachelors, I will turn myself in and request Citizenship in another first world country.” This is exactly what will happen if AB 131 is signed. No path to citizenry or amnesty, take the free aid money, get a higher education at our expense, then go to another country to use it. There are ways to attain citizenry when you become of age. The DREAMERS just don’t want to wait for it. See:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
http://www.ice.gov/#
And, I’m sure that we will survive the loss of your consumerism and the “taxes” that you pay. Isn’t is kinda hard to pay taxes when you are paid in cash, under the table? And, you forget the billions of dollars being given to ILLEGALS through social services and education, for health care not being reimbursed and the $1,000 per child tax credit, etc.. I’m sure that we will find some way to fill up the vacant jobs with people who do want them and appreciate them. Of course, the United States is such an inhospitable nation and cruel, too, that people are just fleeing.
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Rosario Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 8:56 pm
haha, what did you just give me?! a link to obtaining my green card. Thanks, however I’m not qualified to apply to it in the first place. I’ve spoken to half a dozen immigration lawyers in the past 8 years since becoming an adult in hopes of obtaining some sort of legalization and they have all said the exact same thing.
You sound angry, I don’t know what your experience or expectations of undocumented people are but they’re definitely not these leeches that you have created in your mind. Under the table?! HAHAHA! I wish! I can assure you that I’m not paid under the table nor are most of the undocumented people I know. We applied for and received and ITIN number which allows for us to pay our taxes, however we do not receive any of the benefits of citizens.
I’m not going to change your mind and at this point I don’t care to. You’re entitled to YOUR opinion but I will always stay true to the facts. You can not tell me what we are since you are not one of us. You can NOT tell me what I go through and continue to do so.
My life isn’t of that if I were to live in Mexico where odds are I’d be dead since I’m a lesbian. However, living undocumented in the US isn’t as peachy as you may think it is. I get sick and I have to stick it out, drivers license? PFFFT, ID? In your dreams. Busting my ass clocking in 50 hours so I can afford to attend school while my classmates are living off Uncle Sam because they’re born on the right side of the boarder. Knowing that my dreams of joining the Peace Corps may never be since even with the DREAM Act passing it’ll be 16 years until I’m a citizen.Yeah, my life is peaches.
And you’re totally right, I refuse to get my legalization because I enjoy being discriminated against and the thought of being separated from my family tingles my heart like whoa. Walk a mile in my shoes then we’ll talk.
fernando d hernandez Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 1:45 am
im sure u missed out on ur education and cannot see the bigger picture and that is why you are ignorantly angry, but im sure i can relate. Afterall thats how the natives must have felt when the europians came to this great country. Were getting older give us what we need or throw us out but will you(america) make up ur mind already and decide weather to pass immigration reform or mass deportations, one or the other will do just fine as long as america takes action!!! like i said before…im getting older and all of this “good samaritan” behavior is getting me no where. maybe i should become that illegal american immigrant that america seems to portray, the one that takes advantange of pubilc services(even though everybody knows well we are denied because of lack of i.d. or resident status) and become a bum on the streets. oh better yet! a gangster with criminal tendencies! then at least america will be right for once,,, good things come to those who wait. but i cant wait for ever its really becoming frustrating to live here by the rules. Gil Cedillo and all republicans…the time is ticking. and dont say to leave this country because i grew up here and no where else. we will stay here as criminals or or citizens, your choice; because we cant even vote.
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Don Honda Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 9:37 am
Again, more threats of criminality and violence and attacking me personally followed by off-topic, irrelevant argument. So, we’re supposed to cower and just hand over free money so that you can get a degree that you can’t use in this country, while you displace Legal Students and take away their resources and add further to the State’s debt? Why are US citizens and Legal Immigrants responsible for your parents’ decision to put you through hell and live in no man’s land?
I have two words for you: Prison and Deportation
If you and Rosario want so much to be here, then go through the difficult and lengthy process (It is for a reason), be separated from your family, wait it out and then maybe you can enjoy fully the benefits of being a US Citizen, including being able to vote. Otherwise, pay for your education yourself, get the degree, and use it in another country. I’m not saying that your position is peachy or easy. But since you are presumably of age, you can do something constructive and maybe help you and your family to live a better life. You have to figure it out. I can’t. And, you can’t expect the American People to give you a shortcut, ahead of even their own citizens.
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Ragman_158 Reply:
September 25th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
People who are against the DREAM Act are racist. They are trying to justify their hate by saying is the LAW. Guess what, there was a LAW that made people slaves so, just because there was a law for slavery doesn’t make it right. If we don’t want immigrants in our country then let’s stop interfering in their country when they do something we don’t agree on. Is like saying: hey we don’t agree with your socialist politics or your belief so we screw you over but when you want to better yourself and family don’t come over her.
Support the DREAM Act. If good for the economy, let’s not outsourcer our most talented people, let’s keep them inside our borders so they can make American Great!
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Don Honda Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
Sorry, you show your ignorance when you use very old “rhetoric” in place of valid argument. Being against ILLEGAL ALIENS is not being against LEGAL IMMIGRATION. And how do you propose we keep this “talent” when they cannot be employed legally, so then how is this good for our economy when it adds to our State’s debt without a way to recoup the costs of this higher education as well as a lifetime of sucking off our social services? The “affidavit” or “promise” that would be signed to become a citizen is not even enforceable. Not everyone is a sheeple that believes whatever the Pro-AB 131 crowd throws at us.
Let’s concentrate on helping US Citizens and Legal Immigrants to attain a higher education because that is where our future lies.
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Without a path to citizenship, which the California Dream Act cannot provide, you are going to have an underclass of college educated people who because of their legal status, cannot get jobs in the fields that they studied in college. This is why the California Dream Act is a waste of money at a time when the state is experiencing record deficit spending.
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Ragman_158 Reply:
September 25th, 2011 at 10:21 pm
A waste of money is if we don’t pass the DREAM Act. Ok, fact: there are millions of undocumented kids/young adults that we schooled. Fact: if they don’t get an education they are most likely to go into crime. Then we are going to have millions of undocumented kids/ young adults who are committing crimes, that’s a burden to the state. We don’t have the money or resources to send them back and why would we if the only thing they want to do is to better themselves and improve our economy. It’s much easier for an undocumented immigrant to file for legal status if they have a bachelor or a higher education.
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Don Honda Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:17 pm
Commit a crime: Prison and Deportation We could use the money ($38 Million) that is earmarked for AB 131 and start mass deportations now. If AB 131 ILLEGAL ALIEN STUDENTS are of an age now, they can apply for citizen status now. They don’t have to wait.
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Glad to see support for AB 131! Continue fighting for what is right! Have to ignore Don Honda, or at least try to get them to understand the issue.
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Don Honda Reply:
September 21st, 2011 at 6:20 pm
I understand the issue alright. ILLEGAL ALIEN STUDENTS and those US Citizens that are hypnotized into thinking that it is compassionate and right to give free aid and money to those who are not entitled and cannot begin to give back for the costs of supporting them, while your own family, your neighbors, your friends have had their social services lost, their education system dismantled, their healthcare costs increasing, parks closed, infrastructure crumbling, their own tuition and fees ever increasing. Our sick, disabled, aged, our poor are not being taken care of because we have some sick sense of superior patronizing attitude to help those who continually defy our rule of law. They must be laughing at our foolishness. If they don’t like it here, they can leave.
To think that I am a lone voice to be ignored, just wait to see the movement to Recall Governor Brown and to put a referendum to AB 131, if is signed. Just wait for the beginning of the end of the Democratic Party in California as it puts its own citizens as second-class victims of their conniving.
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Ragman_158 Reply:
September 25th, 2011 at 10:28 pm
If you are a lone voice you must be doing something wrong. I’m a neighbor and I haven’t lost anything. All the services that I want and need are at my disposal. Better yet if some is here to improve themselves and keep the American DREAM going then by all means I welcome them. I think your issue is not against the DREAM Act. Or undocumented students I think you have hate and that’s not the America I grew up inn.
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Don Honda Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Then you are very fortunate indeed or have your head in the sand, or don’t read the news of our bankrupt State, 48th in education quality, 50th in amenable business climate, one of the highest rates of poverty and unemployment. And who is the hater when you attack everyone who has a different opinion than yours. Read a dictionary and find the definitions for “hate”, “legal”, and “illegal”. All you know how to do is to attack and speak the slanted rhetoric as opposed to being factual and logical.
Yas Reply:
October 4th, 2011 at 11:21 am
California is a Hispanic State. If you send AB131 to referendum it will REPASS.
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Don Honda Reply:
October 4th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
Very doubtful.
@Rosario,
Sorry honey, you are not documented, so by US law you are ILLEGAL!!! You are also living in about the only country that would ignor the law and allow you to stay here. If you were an American living illegally in Mexico, you would be jailed and deported. This is never mentioned because very few folks, and certainly not Americans want to live in Mexico. But it is not just Mexico, try going to Canada illegally, they will kick you out as well.
So many illegals fell they are entitled to stay here and absorb our resources. Not all illegals are hard working people seeking a better life want more rights in a country they do not belong in.
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Ragman_158 Reply:
September 25th, 2011 at 10:34 pm
Undocumented people are not absorbing anything if they were we would have kick them out long ago. Undocumented people are our dirty secret of a new form of slavery. What would the Native American think? So they are allowed to jail the white folks and send them across the pond. If they are I think you should be the first one Rosario because you sound more of an illegal alien than them.
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Don Honda Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
This sound racist, or at least self-hating to me. And, the person above was speaking to Rosario, not being Rosario herself.
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To all illegal aliens,
Please go home & blame all your problems on your parents because they created your situation. We did not break the laws to bring you here. Why should we be responsible for mistakes of criminals. So pls stop blaming. You are here illegally so you don’t have the right to demand us supporting you. If you want to be respected, you first need to respect others or respect the people laws. Sorry we can’t respect you illegal aliens as our law breakers
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Ragman_158 Reply:
September 25th, 2011 at 10:40 pm
You sound like if we were in 1940’s Germany you would support the third reich because is the LAW. Why should they blame us when we interrupt in foreign affairs when other countries don’t agree with us. E.g. weapons of mass destruction! Japan intervention in the 18th and 19th century! any country who don’t agree with us. Lets first stop intervening and screwing them over then we can say to them to go home.
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Don Honda Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
Does this make sense to anyone???
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As an American student I support the DREAM Act. It’s only going to create more competition and it would only make me get better grades and exceed myself, that’s what America is all about. To better ourselves and keep the American DREAM going!
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Don Honda Reply:
September 26th, 2011 at 2:53 pm
That’s great that you want to better yourself. Just use private scholarships or your own money to do it. US Citizens have no obligation to be responsible for your parents’ criminality and failure to teach you right from wrong and how to be independent rather than expecting others to take care of you.
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Seems that the AB 131 will grant undocumented students currently under the AB 540 bill the ability to put their hands in the pockets of documented students, or is it?
When one pays tuition, where does said money go? Let’s cut the runaround short shall we. Basically, into Grants. Competitive grants actually. Would it be unfair to state that those whom pay towards said grants be eligible to compete for them? Certainly not. Yes, yes, we know that after college many US born can hardly acquire a decent payed employment, even with a Bachelor’s in Science under their belt.
The UC and CSU system are graduating over half of their students with Business majors and Entrepreneurial degrees, so far so good. Why? Well, with the unemployment rates at an all-time high, wouldn’t be prudent in offering such majors to individuals readily willing to create more employment opportunities?
From what this “Dream Act” looks like, it’s actually quite…(don’t jump and cry Don) fair. They pay tuition, they go to school, bust their little illegal butts off to be here even if not acknowledged by federal laws, just to simply, do what we all yearn for (or at least what we thought was) the American Dream. Great, bring on the competition. Let’s see what these little aliens are made of. God forbid they outsmart little Timmy and Tommy with below average grades!
I understand the point of view of why would we even offer this is after it all, they still can’t be employed. By the looks of things, while one is in the hole, plans are set much farther than the deep end. If they are smart, they will use this help to go all JFK and do for this country what we US borns have taken for granted just by simply accidentally popping out of a twat.
Give them a hand, but when they take an arm and a leg, screw them all.
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Don Honda Reply:
September 27th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
Wow! You really seem to hate your fellow Americans: they’re lazy, stupid, and don’t know how to start and keep a business. And, some vulgar language! Are you sure you’re not an ILLEGAL ALIEN looking for a handout?
Um, according to your “plan”, Out-of-state US Students and Legal Immigrant or Foreign Students should get their share of the grants and scholarships because they pay much more into them than anyone else. Isn’t that correct?
Now, don’t start crying and jumping up and down having a hissy fit. If you cared to read AB131 (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) at: http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/AB_131/20112012/
you will see that they (ILLEGAL ALIEN STUDENTS) will get fee (tuition) waivers, State, Local and Federal free money for books, living expenses, etc, and other free aid at the discretion of the Board of Governors to “assist” the poor unfortunate criminals. For Community Colleges, where you need at least a 2.0 to enter, this means they will get a free ride for at least two years displacing LEGAL STUDENTS via the money route. Now, unless you are a woefully inadequate ESL, you need to read my above comments to get the rest. But, of course, you’re too busy crying because Uncle Sam and his citizens and Rule of Law wants you to grow up, own up, stop blaming those who have given a free ride for twelve years–or just talk to mom and dad about moving back to the old country.
And talking about popping out of something–give me statistics on how many ILLEGAL babies are born here and how this group expects the arm and leg, just because they made it through those legs. They are not entitled, are not US Citizens.
If you and they hate it here so much, then leave.
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Illegal babies? Woah, that jumped. How are people born here…illegal? Oh, wait you mean “anchor babies”? Yeah, yeah, so some folks come here, pop kids out and many stay, some move back. That’s beside the point, people born here, accidentally, or intentionally, are still U.S. Citizens.
I’m all for everyone getting their fair share of the dream life, and if one wants it, go for it. It’s a shame that our entering systems take like, ten dang years. We Americans think that these folks just flock over here through deserts and what not as there first option. And it’s not just our fellow humans from the south, it’s all over the world. We are a first world country right smack dab in the middle of a third world continent. Stop being so dang stingy! Monism is still very much alive, why can’t we all just get along? Because of pride, “not enough resources”, or just plain ol’ racism?
Let’s not pull out all the stops and make it simpler. This Bill, at least the first half seems reasonable. I was unaware of the BOG waivers, or federal/state monies towards books and what not. That Don, I thank you. A lot of things I don’t know can fill a warehouse! Those, I am not exactly jumping for joy, if they could have just left it at private scholarships and competitive grants, the red flag would have not gone up. Housing? Wouldn’t that go against the current Federal Law of housing undocumented individuals?…
I hope they revise it, or maybe they won’t, perhaps it’s a nice little scheme to get all the undocumented students in housing and send ICE on the way, who knows what the big plans of the politicians are, but overall, everyone has rights, whether it was fate or destiny that placed them in these shoes, as human beings, we have to help one another.
We Americans (well at least the ones I see in my town), take a lot of things for granted and when our funds hit a low, we go to our government for resources and help. And why do I give these lazy folk my tax monies when I sense it could be used for something better than welfare babies, and Cadillacs? We all just need to get up from our sedentary states and work, work, work. It’s for the good of the country.
I just wish I am alive to see the day when borders are no more and we have a Republic of North America. Pipe-dream, perhaps.
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Don Honda Reply:
October 4th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
Sorry, AA
I misspoke. I really didn’t want to get into the 14th Amendment, as to who is a citizen or not, if they are born here. That was really not my point. I wish that all babies that make it between those legs could have a life of ease and plenty. But, that is really not possible. The world is not perfect, yet.
Thank you for showing some intelligence in reading what AB 131 DOES give this population and how it would affect everyone concerned. What I find most frustrating is the deliberate attempts at fallacious rhetoric that hides the facts, that hides what the repercussions will be. Just the fact of this bait and switch deliberations, shows that something is being shoved down our throats and we’re not going to like it.
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I suggest you analyze the the real problems behind the economic crisis and stop trying to scapegoat undocumented youth. Seriously, come up with some good initiatives to resolve the true threats this nation currently faces. This whole “Illegals drain our system” is way to old and lacks fundamental credibility When people live in the shadows, you can’t know for sure how many they are, what they are doing, if in fact they are abusing some sort of welfare or not. Thus, your arguments are merely opinions. Why are immigrants not moving to other countries? The United States has for decades lured them here to work jobs WHITES won’t do. <—-That is a fact. Nobody was complaining when things were going great and it was cheap to put food on your table (thanks to migrant labor) but now that this country lacks leadership, is immersed in an out-of-control deficit, and in the midst of financial crisis, well now its time to scapegoat. NO AMERICA! You know what the problem is…don't act stupid.
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Don Honda Reply:
October 4th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
Sorry, Yas.
Talk about old rhetoric, “Doing jobs that WHITES won’t do.” Let’s face it, not everyone is college material. This means that there will always be a a certain % of WHITE people whose only choice is to do those menial jobs. Before the current crop of Illegal Aliens, Filipinos, Japaneses, Blacks, Poor White “Trash”, did them. It’s still not true. I have friends, most being single parents, who have done housekeeping, gardening, errand runners, hospitality, nannying, construction, manufacturing, etc. only to “priced out” by the current crop of Illegals who will cut their wages in half, not worry about Unions, or job safety, just to push out competition. More and more, government jobs are going to those who are “bilingual”. Here, again, we need true reform and establish set guidelines so that no one is working like a slave, a “right to work” state, and a true guest worker program.
To see the other side of what Illegals cost us:
http://www.usillegalaliens.com/
You may argue that it’s biased, etc. but you asked for facts and documentation.
We all know why we have the problems we do today–POLITICIANS on both sides of the fence using these issues as a political rallying point, and/or to divert from what the real problem is–Their not doing anything constructive, especially the California Legislature.
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