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Illegal immigrants press for college financial aid
Chicago Sun Times ^
| July 28, 2003
| DAVE NEWBART
Posted on 07/28/2003 8:24:37 PM PDT by new cruelty
Diana Mora, 18, of Chicago, would love to attend Northwestern because it's a "really great school'' with "really good prestige.'' Martha, 20, of Chicago, earned high grades at Roosevelt High School in hopes of attending the elite university in Evanston.
But even though both graduated at the top of their respective classes and both were accepted for admission at NU, neither can attend.
That's because as illegal immigrants from Mexico, they are not eligible for financial aid--either from the government or Northwestern. At $37,338 for a year of tuition and room and board, they said not getting aid is just like not getting accepted at all--there is no way they can afford to go.
"We should have the opportunity to be able to go to the top universities,'' said Martha, who asked that her full name not be used. "A lot of people think Hispanics can't do it. We can do it. We just don't have the resources. I don't think it's fair."
But an Uptown-based community group is hoping to change that. The Organization of the NorthEast is lobbying a handful of local private universities to do more to help illegal students attend their campuses.
Emboldened by the passage of a recent law allowing illegal, longtime Illinois residents who graduate from state high schools to pay in-state tuition, they say there is nothing stopping schools like Northwestern from providing their own funds to help the students. Under current law, the students are ineligible for federal or state aid.
In response to the group's effort, Loyola University created a task force to recommend ways to assist illegal students, although the school has not committed to any action.
If Northwestern--one of the nation's top schools--took action, it "could set a trend'' for other private schools, said Joyce Ramirez-Knight, co-chair of the immigration strategy team for the organization.
But Northwestern has rejected calls to change its policy of only offering aid to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
NU officials say the school only offers full scholarships to athletes. All other aid is need-based, and is typically a combination of federal and state money in addition to aid directly from Northwestern.
Because NU would have to provide all the funds itself, providing aid to illegal students would drain NU's $51 million aid budget more quickly than giving aid to low-income students who are legal residents, NU officials said.
Such aid "is much more expensive and deprives others of resources,'' NU President Henry Bienen said in a letter to the group late last month. Bienen also said there could be legal problems with "selectively limiting assistance to any particular group of noncitizens.''
Bienen was unavailable for comment Friday, but NU spokesman Al Cubbage said the school doesn't see how it could offer scholarships to Mexican citizens who live in the Chicago area over Mexican citizens who live in Mexico.
But Ramirez-Knight ridiculed the school's assertion that the aid was too costly, considering the school's $3.3 billion endowment was the 15th largest in the country in 2002.
She also said there is a difference between students like Mora and Martha and international students who have no plans to stay in the States. The women have lived here for years, their families are here and they attended local elementary and high schools. They are simply caught in the process of trying to become citizens, which can take between seven and 21 years.
"They know no other country,'' she said.
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aztlaniscoming; bordersecurity; financialaide; handouts; highereducation; illegalaliens; illegalimmigration; immigrantlist; invasionusa; otherpeoplesmoney; tuition
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To: new cruelty
(COPY AND DISTRIBUTE WIDELY: start a movement, print a petition, start a political party, confront your legislators, write letters, post posters, drop leaflets, demand, demand, demand.)
18 POINT ACTION PLAN: Border Violators
1) Close all US borders to illegal entry forthwith by any and all means possible, including military presence.
2) Maintain legitimate immigration levels at modest annual level with requirements that immigrants be employable or sufficiently wealthy for self-support if they do not intend to work, proficient in basic English and willing to be assimilated into American culture and language. All applicants shall provide prints, photos and DNA samples.
3) Legal immigration shall be awarded to individuals on a lottery basis, wherein all countries are given equal status in the immigration lottery, without regards to color or economic plight of originating nation.
4) Individuals of Islamic faith (muslims) from any country shall be denied immigration privileges or entry into the US. Christians and Jews from muslim countries fleeing religious persecution shall receive accelerated immigration privileges.
5) Detain all border violators, taking photos, prints and DNA samples of said violator while at the same time, checking for out standing warrants. If no warrants are outstanding, return border violators to home country within 20 days via commercial airline and submit cost of such action, including processing and housing costs for said violator, to country of origin. If costs are not paid within 30 days, reduce any and all aid to said country by a like amount.
6) Should any country from which a border violator originates not currently receive any aid from the US, the Justice Department shall be authorized to seize or secure liens on assets owned, managed or registered to that country to the full extent of the obligation.
7) Establish new Guest Worker Visa (GWV) category, renewable every 6 months, for unskilled labor positions wherein all applicants shall provide prints, photos and DNA samples. Work permitted of such applicants shall be limited to one of several categories, including childcare, lawn/gardening, restaurant staff, cleaning and the like. Families of GWV workers are not permitted to enter US, nor will the birth of a child to one of GWV status confer citizenship to either parent or child.
8) Any violation of civil or criminal laws shall result in the forfeiture of the GWV and immediate return to originating country.
9) GWV holders shall be prohibited from claiming unemployment benefits, welfare support or free medical service.
10) The originating country of all GWV holders shall be responsible for any uninsured loss caused by the GWV, including emergency medical claims and/or claims resulting from illegal actions committed while in the US.
11) Companies who hire GWV holders shall submit to the Immigration Dept the name and GWV number of that individual, along with a description of employment tasks. Companies shall be subject to fines and penalty that fail to report employment of GWV workers, or hire border violators. GWV workers shall be paid with check, having income tax withheld. GWV workers shall not be subject to unemployment tax because they are not eligible to receive unemployment compensation.
12) Border violators, or any non-citizen not possessing a valid visa, detained by local police for any reason shall be turned over to border control officials for immediate deportation action, except if they face criminal charges in other jurisdictions.
13) GWV workers shall be prohibited for voting in local, state and federal elections.
14) Border Violators shall NOT be afforded the rights enjoyed by American citizens, as guaranteed under the constitution.
15) Public education (at institutions supported by taxpayer dollars) at any level (pre-school, kindergarten through the university level,) shall NOT be available to Border Violators (or children of Border Violators) and schools that enroll such individuals shall be subject to penalties.
16) Foreign Students (F/S) (individuals admitted to the U.S. for the purpose of attending any educational facility,) private institution or public (i.e. supported by taxpayer dollars,) must have valid student visas, such visas being in force only if the FS attends full-time school. Foreign students shall be required to pay tuition, housing and related costs such that all their educational costs are fully reimbursed to the institution attended. The originating country shall pay for any and all loss caused by students while on U.S. soil.
17) Border Violators seeking emergency medical treatment shall provide pictures, fingerprints and DNA samples along with country of origin, and shall be incarcerated until information provided can be verified. Originating country shall bear the costs of medical treatment.
18) Children born in the U.S. to border violators, illegal aliens or of foreign nationals in the U.S. for any reason, including temporary visitor, school or work visas, shall not be eligible for citizenship as a circumstance of birth, nor shall the parents or persons related to the parents of new born children be conferred U.S. citizenship as a result of such births.
121
posted on
07/29/2003 9:20:45 AM PDT
by
Imagine
To: FITZ
I didn't know college was free in Mexico for its citizens. They have a lot of nerve, don't they?
122
posted on
07/29/2003 10:04:43 AM PDT
by
TheSpottedOwl
(You bring tar, I'll bring feathers....recall Davis in 03!!!)
To: A CA Guy
In the 80's it was gangs and drug dealers coming to rural America. Now it is illegal non-citizens. Cannot stress that enough or the left is going to scream racism and civil rights violations. What is so frustrating is while citizens pay property tax, other taxes, must carry valid ID, abide by laws, can have a back ground check in all states at the stop of a police officer (who do not deal with illegals for being illegal) ect.... While getting a Matricula card for myself and having a second ID as Juanita Estes I want to continue to be a law abiding US Citizen. But I feel the politicians who I have trusted to office have a different agenda and are rewarding those coming in the back door.
123
posted on
07/29/2003 10:12:11 AM PDT
by
oceanperch
(Huge Sigh)
To: new cruelty
The arrogance of these parasitical illegals is just amazing. Can't wait to see what they have in store for us as their numbers grow larger.
124
posted on
07/29/2003 10:23:49 AM PDT
by
american spirit
(ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION = NATIONAL SUICIDE)
To: american spirit
Can't wait to see what they have in store for us as their numbers grow larger. Expulsion?
To: sasafras
Our borders are being overrun while the current administration is diddling around in far-away lands. Enough..... end the treachery.
126
posted on
07/29/2003 10:26:46 AM PDT
by
Tancredo Fan
(Stop the invasion. Put the military on the borders, round up illegals, and tell Fox to shove off.)
To: Tancredo Fan
Let's see here.... most states are raising tuition for their own citizens, and now these despicable barnacles are demanding financial aid? Welcome to the new AmeriKa. Where Illegal Aliens have more rights than American Citizens and can do or say anything they please. Brought to us courtesy of the NWO Beltway Elite and the shadow government they represent.
Government memo to all U.S. Citizens: Just shut up and pay your taxes...or else.
127
posted on
07/29/2003 10:53:57 AM PDT
by
WRhine
To: pram
I'm wondering if it might not be so slow - considering that things are more speeded up in many ways than in previous civilizations. Well, it will be slow compared to the instant gratification that most Americans have come to expect and admire in our society :-)
The sunset on the Roman Empire was measured in the hundreds of years from "start of decline" to utter collapse.
The sunset on the British Empire was between 50-100 years depending on where you put the "start of decline" marker.
So, I would say we've got at least 10-20 years before we go bust if that is the direction we are headed in, and I do because everything is cyclical.
Of course, once the American Century is declared to be finished, won't the illegals be trying to sneak into India and China? Bwahahaha....
To: new cruelty
No, I think the plan is to keep enough whites around to tend gardens, cut grass, etc. At least that was the paraphrase to a quote by one of Aztlan parasites.
129
posted on
07/29/2003 12:23:56 PM PDT
by
american spirit
(ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION = NATIONAL SUICIDE)
To: american spirit
Good thing I'm brown : )
To: new cruelty
So am I and anti illegal immigration as you can see by my tagline.
131
posted on
07/29/2003 12:31:53 PM PDT
by
american spirit
(ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION = NATIONAL SUICIDE)
To: FITZ
Universities are free there!!!?? Then they should go back to Mexico for their education and keep their hands out of our pockets!!! It's a no brainer.
To: abishai
"I just turned down $5000 from the government to pay for college. I didn't feel right about taking money from others to use for myself."
You are an honorable person. I wish more people were as honest and responsible as you are. I think Americans used to be like that at one time.
When you are ready, I hope you will have lots of kids so that our society can have more people with your values.
To: snickeroon
"a trio of Arizona repubs, led by none other than John McCain, have introduced a bill to immediately grant amnesty to all illegals.."
Oh blast it all. I don't understand that kind of perverted thinking. We never voted to do away with our borders. And what's with McCain anyway? He's always coming up with something a liberal would do.
To: Conservababe
"I then said "My mother has just moved here and she speaks only German. Can you accomadate her"? She said no, they had no one there who spoke German."
Good for you. Europeans are ignored when it comes to quotas and "accommodations." My parents came here from Europe, and it was very important to them to speak English. We should stop rewarding Hispanics or anyone else who does NOT care enough to learn English.
To: pram
"So I and other tax payers are supposed to hand her the money?"
And probably her siblings and friends and future children, too. I hope you have a high-paying job. I don't; I never went to Northwestern.
To: new cruelty
She also said there is a difference between students like Mora and Martha and international students who have no plans to stay in the States. The women have lived here for years, their families are here and they attended local elementary and high schools. They are simply caught in the process of trying to become citizens, which can take between seven and 21 years.Only someone in education or law could possibly come up with this concept! The difference between international students and illegal aliens are that the illegal aliens are here illegally!!! There's an intern where I work who's an international student, and he's barred by law from accepting a job that pays any money. It's against the law for him to work! So he's an unpayed intern who's getting some on-the-job work experience.
And if someone's here illegally, they are NOT trying to become citizens! They might hope to become citizens, hoping for another amnesty.
When the government cheapens citizenship to the point where it has no meaning, where people who don't pay into the system want benefits from that system, that's a government that's no longer a device of the citizens.
Mark
137
posted on
07/29/2003 10:19:11 PM PDT
by
MarkL
(OK, I'm going to crawl back under my rock now!)
To: KittyKares
My husband and I generally work for Mr. Underthetable.
To: superloser
" Of course, once the American Century is declared to be finished, won't the illegals be trying to sneak into India and China?"
Boats are easier to turn away. And don't think those countries will accept boatloads of unskilled laborers who want to be treated better than their own citizens.
To: american spirit
"I think the plan is to keep enough whites around to tend gardens, cut grass, etc"
Great. I do NOT have a green thumb. I would not be a good gardener.
I guess I could be a nanny.
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