Posted on 04/26/2005 3:45:50 PM PDT by CHARLITE
A controversial bill called the Dream Act, if passed, would grant permanent residency – and the right to land a job - to college-educated illegals who came to the U.S. as children.
This would indeed be a "Dream" come true for a growing number of well-educated American students who are finding it impossible to land a job in the U.S. because they’re illegal aliens.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1982 that all children, including undocumented aliens, can attend elementary and secondary school for free. But higher education was left up to the individual states.
In 2001, Texas became the first state to allow undocumented immigrants who graduate from a state high school to pay in-state resident tuition at public universities. Eight other states have passed similar measures since then.
But now the first group of students to benefit from the Texas law are preparing to graduate, and finding that regardless of their field of study – including in-demand fields such as nursing and engineering – they can’t be hired by an American firm.
"We have this irony – young adults who are trained and ready to join the work force but are unable to do so legally," said Josh Bernstein, director of federal policy at the National Immigration Law Center in Washington, D.C.
Supporters of reform say that well-educated immigrants can make a larger contribution to American economy. But critics say provisions that allow the illegals to pay in-state resident tuition are in fact a tax giveaway to people who aren’t in the country legally.
Now advocates are saying the Dream Act offers the only solution to students who will otherwise be frozen out of the job market.
The bill would allow undocumented aliens who came to the U.S. as children at least five years ago to get temporary legal residency when they graduate from high school.
Those who attended college or joined the military would be eligible for permanent residency.
Last year Congress took no action on the bill, the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act. But it’s expected that Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, will re-introduce the measure.
"The federal government needs to pass the Dream Act so these students can get on with their lives," said Bernstein.
The bill has bipartisan support. But opponents are intent on stalling the measure. "This bill is a crass political calculation aimed at selling an amnesty disguised as an educational initiative," charged Dan Stein, Executive Director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform.
Most of the illegal alien students are from Latin America, although others are from Asia, Africa and Europe.
One of the students caught in the job market limbo is 24-year-old Julieta Garibay, who is set to graduate with a nursing degree from the University of Texas – and has no job prospects due to her status as an illegal immigrant.
In February, Garibay joined a group from Texas who traveled to Washington to lobby Congress for passage of the Dream Act.
"So many kids without papers just stop studying and have babies," she said. "We have studied and want to be productive, but have no prospects."
They're just taking the college educations that Americans don't want.
It's getting so that the only way to achieve the American Dream is to not to be an American.
F#$%ing illegals they could do what legal immigrants do, get a visa! its not that hard to get an h1b if you have college degree
Another act that says, "Hey, Mexico, just make it past our border guards, live a little, and we'll give you citizenship!"
They might as well say, "Hey, murders, thieves, and rapists, make it 5 years without getting caught or committing another crime and we'll give you amnesty!"
Oh, really?
Since when was being an illegal alian an impediment to getting a job? There are millions of illegals holding jobs today. Just what planet is this writer from?
Just try to hire a contractor in any southwestern state who does NOT have illegals on his crew!
"But it’s expected that Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, will re-introduce the measure."
What a phony.....
I think there is a perfect solution---
They have college educations that have been subsidized by American taxpayers--they shouldn't expect a JOB here, because even US students who graduate aren't PROMISED a job.
Therefore, they should take their taxpayer subsidized educations BACK to Mexico to try to make that county inhabitable so that we won't have to keep taking care of all of their castaways!!!
It is payback to us, that they HELP alleviate the illegal immigration problem by using their skills to fix a broken and corrupt country!
hello, the last time I looked (I have a high school junior so I have been looking) college is expensive. who the heck is paying for.....oh. never mind.
so all the saving I am doing to put my kids through college, all the work I, and my kid, is doing b/c the cost is so high will benefit....sigh. can't even think about it b/c it is so depressing....being the provider to the world is getting old.
And it will get about as far as it did the last time out.
Hatch = RINO
Isn't Tubby Chappaquiddick Kennedy his best buddy?
We are being sold out...
Wait a minute! If they're illegal aliens they can't be Americans?????
This country is going down the tubes very fast!!!!!!!
If we agree that well-educated immigrants can make a large contribution to the American economy, it necessarily follows that poorly educated immigrants make a more meager contribution. And isn't it agreed that the illegal immigrants from Mexico are poorly educated? Thus these the hordes of poorly educated immigrants must not be helping the American economy much.
Yes.
Just cry me a river.
Our own taxpaying, college graduate American Citizen's children shouldn't have to compete against an ILLEGAL for any job in this country. I thought the Illegals were here to do the jobs lazy Americans didn't want to take? So much for that mantra.
sw
My 21 year old niece on a waiting list to get into a nursing program. Oh, that's right - she's a US Citizen- that's the problem.
The bill would allow undocumented aliens who came to the U.S. as children at least five years ago to get temporary legal residency when they graduate from high school.
How "temporary" will this residency be? Will those who drop out of school, and their parents, be deported?
Those who attended college or joined the military would be eligible for permanent residency.
Those who attend college for how long? Will permanent residency require a diploma? If joining the military, will permanent residency be contingent upon an honorable discharge?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.