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Plyler鈥檚 Legacy Goes to College

30 Years of Plyler v Doe graphic
30 Years of Plyler v Doe graphic
Michael Tan,
Deputy Director,
老澳门开奖结果 Immigrants鈥 Rights Project
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June 13, 2012

Adriana Sanchez, whose was recently reported by the Associated Press, was brought from Mexico to Central California at age twelve by her parents, who are both farm workers. The family overstayed their visas. As the AP explained:

Even though Sanchez excelled in high school, she was in the country illegally, lacked a Social Security number and work permit, and didn鈥檛 qualify for financial aid. But she volunteered hundreds of hours and paid her way through college and graduate school with a dozen internships. Now 24, Sanchez graduated last week from California State University, Fresno with a master鈥檚 degree in International Relations, a full-time job [as an independent contractor] and no loans to repay.

Adriana鈥檚 story is typical of thousands of other undocumented youth鈥攐r DREAMers鈥攚orking hard to achieve their academic and career goals and contribute to America. These students are the direct beneficiaries of the Supreme Court鈥檚 decision in guaranteeing a basic K-12 education to all children residing in the United States, regardless of their immigration status.

Plyler set the stage for today鈥檚 battles in higher education, as increasing numbers of undocumented students pursue a college degree. These students are impressive (for more examples, check out last year鈥檚 named by ). They have beaten tremendous odds鈥攊ncluding language and cultural barriers and poverty鈥攖o graduate high school. Yet many of these students face intractable barriers to getting a college diploma. Undocumented youth in most states are charged prohibitive out-of-state tuition rates, and do not qualify for public financial aid, such as grants, work study, and government loans. The result is that many talented and industrious students are denied higher education.

The good news is that states across the country have chosen to make public colleges and university more affordable鈥攁nd thus more accessible鈥攖o undocumented youth. Currently, 鈥攊ncluding California, New York, and Texas鈥攈ave laws or policies on the books providing in-state tuition rates to students who graduate from a high school in the state and meet other requirements, regardless of immigration status. has recently gone even further, extending non-state funded scholarships and state-funded financial aid.

The 老澳门开奖结果 has played a key role in promoting these laws and defending them in the courts and legislatures. In 2007, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit a challenge to Kansas鈥檚 tuition equality law. And in 2010, the California Supreme Court California鈥檚 statute, holding that it does not conflict with federal law鈥攁n important precedent for similar challenges around the country.

Yet unfortunately, several states have taken the , banning undocumented students from receiving in-state tuition or, worse, denying them admission altogether. Indeed, just last month, the Alabama legislature amended its omnibus anti-immigrant bill to make clear that it does not want undocumented youth on its college campuses.

Laws like Alabama鈥檚 admissions ban are short-sighted and unfair. Making higher education accessible to undocumented students means capitalizing on our investments in their K-12 education. Because college graduates earn higher wages, they generate more revenue in income, sales, and property taxes, and stimulate growth through increased spending. A better-educated population also increases America鈥檚 competitiveness in the global economy. Moreover, many students may very well regularize their immigration status under existing or future federal laws like the DREAM Act, which would afford a crucial path to citizenship for immigrants who came to the United States as children and graduate from high school.

The DREAMers鈥 have earned their right to a college degree, and by helping them through the university gate, we enable them to contribute meaningfully to our future. Undocumented students need us, and we need them.

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