The DREAM Act for Jessica Colotl
I’m a big fan of the DREAM Act, which would allow promising illegal immigrants to get college degrees and then get on the path to citizenship. This country desperately needs more college graduates, and there is little argument that undocumented college graduates would burden our financial resources. Because it is narrowly tailored, it wouldn’t prompt a stampede across our borders, as detractors claim.
And The DREAM Act would free promising students like Jessica Colotl to focus on their studies:
Jessica Colotl, 21, is a senior at Kennesaw State University, a political science major and a member of Lambda Theta Alpha, a college sorority. She wants to attend law school.
However, she came to this country illegally, with her parents, when she was a child. And her detractors don’t care what she’s accomplished since then. They want to send her back to Mexico, a country she barely knows.
But for years, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has been reluctant to endorse the DREAM Act as a separate piece of legislation, fearing that, if it passes, they won’t get the necessary votes for the rest of comprehensive immigration reform. This week, the caucus, happily, changed its mind and will support the DREAM act as a separate bill. (h/t Think Progress)
Today however, at the Reform Immigration for America campaign’s “Relief, Reform, Respect for our Families” forum, CHC Chairwoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) announced that the caucus supports Sen. Harry Reid’s (D-NV) addition of the DREAM Act as an amendment to the defense authorization bill, stating “the time is now” for the DREAM Act:
As chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus I stand here before you to say that all along we have said to the Democratic leadership — in the House and in the Senate — and to the President every time we’ve met with him that we will not stand in the way of the DREAM Act, but there has to be a commitment that no amendments will be allowed to be included in this bill. We will support the DREAM Act. [...]
Congress ought to concentrate on a few small bills that would represent a modest improvement over the current reality for millions of those without papers — a life of living in the shadows, without legal protections, with continual fear of deportation and little chance for improved circumstances.
One of the best opportunities lies in the DREAM Act, which would allow promising undocumented students to start a path toward citizenship if they meet certain standards. The proposal — pushed for years by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) — is intended to boost illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, have finished high school and want to attend college or join the U.S. Armed Forces. The bill is a win not only for those students, but also for the country as a whole.
Much of the fury directed at illegal immigrants feeds off the notion that many of them are unfairly taking advantage of benefits that should be restricted to American citizens. However, that’s not the case with college; undocumented students are not displacing bona fide citizens who have been denied a seat in Calculus II.
In fact, the United States doesn’t have nearly enough students attending college. President Obama has talked again and again about the country’s decline in educational attainment: the U.S. used to the lead the world in the number of people with college degrees, but we’ve fallen behind.
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162 comments Add your comment
Ricky Ricardo
September 16th, 2010
5:47 pm
She told me she was Cuban, that makes it cool.
RamblinWreck2011
September 16th, 2010
5:48 pm
Of course Cynthia finds this a good idea. She must not be aware that the term illegal means illegal, or not allowed. Cynthia, since your so fond of this piece of liberal legislation why don’t you offer to pay the portion of my taxes that go towards the University System of Georgia to insure that illegals get a education on our dime, it doesn’t work like that. This is just another piece of liberal legislation that costs money that we don’t have. When you don’t have 30k for a new car do you go and buy one? Maybe, but thats because your financially responsible. I’m always amazed at what Cynthia and the liberal AJC have to say on politics, wait….its always the same washed up stuff that all of the liberal media presents to the public.
Ricky Ricardo
September 16th, 2010
5:48 pm
What does 55mph mean? I see it on signs downtown.
RGB
September 16th, 2010
5:50 pm
So should illegals pay out-of-country tuition?
Ricky Ricardo
September 16th, 2010
5:50 pm
I would give her 4 million to start a business but I would have to borrow the money.
RamblinWreck2011
September 16th, 2010
5:51 pm
SouthGaDawg-How many illegals make it into the military? They have so many background checks and ways of determining whether or not one is eligble for the military. A FEW might slip through the cracks, but seriously this is never the case.
flagger
September 16th, 2010
5:52 pm
miss tucker, if u feel so strongly about the dream act, why don’t u take some of ure money
and pay for jessica’s education…. seems fair to me, but thats never the case is it?
u and ure ilk want everyone else to pay..hellllllooooo we have enough trouble paying for
our own childrens education. but hey all we got to do is shake the money tree.. right?
Ricky Ricardo
September 16th, 2010
5:52 pm
Borrowing money you can’t pay back would be not financially responsible I heard this man say.
bronco
September 16th, 2010
5:54 pm
Cynthia…Do you just sit around in your PJs at nite and think about how to piss off the people who read your columns
Wreck
September 16th, 2010
6:07 pm
Farcical. This can’t be serious.
If it is serious, why not just support amnesty to young people that through no fault of their own have lived here their whole life?
Oh…oh that’s right…that’s what you want. This is just an end-around.
And to claim that by going to college they wouldn’t be “taking advantage of benefits”…so does this mean they will be ineligible for financial aid, or attending public colleges and universities, since an education there is HIGHLY subsidized by the state?
So will illegal hispanics get the same affirmative action consideration that legal hispanics are afforded in admissions?
This bill is completely full of EPIC FAIL
Peadawg
September 16th, 2010
6:08 pm
We don’t need the DREAM act. There’s already a way in place to become a citizen. Do it the right way like thousands of other immigrants.
Charlie Brown
September 16th, 2010
6:09 pm
Good grief. Another lawyer wannabe. Just what we need……………more damn lawyers! I have a better idea, Tucker. Why don’t you adopt her and pay for her college education. I’ve already paid for my kids’.
Nothing Is Free
September 16th, 2010
6:10 pm
Here’s an idea. How about giving that money to promising Americans that need a college education?
Are we just out of poor, smart Americans?
Skip
September 16th, 2010
6:18 pm
How many times you going to run with this same story? How bout you earn your paycheck.
Reality
September 16th, 2010
6:18 pm
Regardless of what is said, I disagree with this on principle.
An illegal person, adult or child, should never reap the benefits of citizenship, State or Federal. This includes everything from discounted tuition at colleges (in-state tuition) to food stamps to public K-12 education to EVERYTHING.
If an illegal person wants to attend college, then they need to pay the full amount…. period.
Cynthia, are you a Christian?
September 16th, 2010
6:20 pm
Cynthia- I am curious if you are a Christian. I have been reading your blogs recently… and a couple of days ago you invoked that “because of your Christian beliefs” as an answer to a question.
The Bible spends a lot of time telling how followers of Christ should take care of the poor… but there is an important distinction to be aware of. The Bible asks followers to give money TO THE CHURCH for this purpose. Our current government certainly doesn’t have Christian beliefs at heart, so why would you want more dollars going to the government than the church?
Obama and the Democratic National Party support abortion, gay marriage, and continually want to take God out of government and schools. So your unrelenting support of Obama and his party seems to fly in the face of your Christian beliefs.
Charles
September 16th, 2010
6:27 pm
Boo Hoo…poor illegal immigrants have no rights. Too freaking bad! If you come here illegally, you should be deported and not entitled to any of the privelages an American citizen has. You have NO rights to our tax dollars. Stop these illegals from stealing from the American taxpayers. My opinions have nothing to do with race or anything else. I just firmly believe if you want to come to America, you MUST do it the legal way or get the &$#@ out of here. Just like my ancestors did. You, Miss Tucker, are a VERY SAD example of an American citizen!
Moderate Line
September 16th, 2010
6:27 pm
-However, that’s not the case with college;
-undocumented students are not displacing
-bona fide citizens who have been denied
-a seat in Calculus II.
Hm! The space in colleges is infininte. I personally do not care whether they are accepted into college as long as they go through the same process as any other non-citizen. It doesn’t seem fair that we have people from all over the world wanting to go to college here and we let people in who have not abided by the laws.
-President Obama has talked again and
-again about the country’s decline in educational attainment
In 2008 47.0% of high school graduates were enrolled in college. In 1998 it was 45.5. In 1988 it was 37.6% according to the census bureau. During this time high school graduates were going up so that was not a factor.
So what decline is he talking about.
Dave
September 16th, 2010
6:29 pm
Cool story bro
Legal1
September 16th, 2010
6:35 pm
If you have no problem with illegal immigration but lock your doors to keep out burglars you are a hypocrite! After all, they are just seeking a better life.
Richard Fitzwell
September 16th, 2010
6:39 pm
Using old Cindy’s rational – It’s quite alright for a thief to break into my house, steal all my money and possesions, as long as they make my bed and cook dinner……Think about it….
Jim
September 16th, 2010
6:47 pm
NO, NO, NO! If they are illegals they should NOT be even given the opportunity to enter our colleges and universities in the first place. What part of “illegal” do you not understand Cynthia?
In addition, where are they getting the money to pay tuition, room, and board at these universities, is it being paid for by the LEGAL American taxpayers? Why should my taxes go to pay for someone who has already broken the law when there are plenty of deserving students who are denied funds for college? Pick another cause you can champion because I believe you are preaching to the wrong group, legal Americans.
Producer
September 16th, 2010
6:53 pm
Let Operation Wetback II begin with her illegal self. If you’re illegal you get no US citizen eligible benefits, none zero, nada (a word this young lady certainly understands.) Enforce our existing laws and send them all home. Illegals are thieves, stealing the good services of legal Americans. It isn’t hard to understand.
Mr Charlie
September 16th, 2010
7:07 pm
Fact is, they are here, they are not going anywhere, might as well educate them so they will be productive one day.
Producer
September 16th, 2010
7:08 pm
God, can you imagine how much extra money from our own paychecks and in our pockets to care for our own families if we didn’t to subsidize BOTH the legal and the illegal leeches?! National cancers, the both of them!!
Ralph
September 16th, 2010
7:11 pm
Sure thing and we can take the costs out of Cynthia’s paycheck. Does that sound about right CT:-)))))?
Chrono
September 16th, 2010
7:13 pm
What this country needs is more tradespeople, not college grads. Oh, and breaking the law has consequences, like screwing your children out of an education. Way to go mexican parents!
I Could've Put Some Lame Name Here
September 16th, 2010
7:34 pm
@south GA DAWG
You actually proved her point. We USED to be tops in Education but as evidenced by your number we are falling behind
dan
September 16th, 2010
7:36 pm
Cynthia Tucker is an idiot, and her views are stupid. I can’t believe she gets paid to write this crap. These people don’t belong here. End of story.
Billybob
September 16th, 2010
7:37 pm
Cynthia,
We are a nation of laws, correct? If everyone just decides to follow the laws that they like and not follow the laws they don’t like, where does that leave us Tucker?
Kamchak
September 16th, 2010
7:46 pm
What part of “illegal” do you not understand Cynthia?
What part of “illegal” do you not understand when it comes to those that employed her parents for the past 21 years?
Mr Charlie
September 16th, 2010
8:07 pm
There was a time when both the father and mother were committed to raising and educating thier children and the results showed, It was no coincidence because we were #1 in education.
-So when you progressives talk question what tea partiers mean when they say “Go back”, and “when America was Great”, that is what they are referring to.
Moderate Line
September 16th, 2010
8:15 pm
Kamchak
September 16th, 2010
7:46 pm
What part of “illegal” do you not understand Cynthia?
What part of “illegal” do you not understand when it comes to those that employed her parents for the past 21 years?
++++
That’s called deflection. Who here has advocated people employing illegal aliens should not be punished. I don’t see how that should give a person a preferences over people who want to immigrate here legally.
Mr Charlie
September 16th, 2010
8:16 pm
Kammy, deflection? Surely you jest!
Mr Charlie
September 16th, 2010
8:21 pm
Yep there was a time when we led the world in advanced education. Do we listen to the generation who accomplished this? Do we ask their advice as to how we achieve this again? No, we call them flat earthers and racists. That makes sense.
The REAL GodHatesTrash, Superstar
September 16th, 2010
8:22 pm
Dunno, Charlie, two stupid parents can raise a stupid kid just as easily as one can.
Mr Charlie
September 16th, 2010
8:25 pm
Superstar, you are right, they can raise a stupid one just as easy, but it is a lot harder to raise a smart one.
I have my theory as to why our country is no longer the beacon of higher education, what is yours?
Kamchak
September 16th, 2010
8:31 pm
Who here has advocated people employing illegal aliens should not be punished.
Who here that posts, “what part of illegal don’t you understand?” has ever addressed the underlying issue of IAs coming here for jobs, or the people that hire them?
The REAL GodHatesTrash, Superstar
September 16th, 2010
8:35 pm
Historically, Hispanics have lower high school graduation rates than any other demographic, except for Appalachians. Like Appalachians, there is a large segment of the Hispanic community that denigrates “book-learning”. So we should encourage Hispanics, much like we should encourage our “rural mountain rustics”, to pursue education. Unlike Appalachians, Hispanics are very hard workers, and can be a credit to our communities.
But, I am against taxpayer $$ being spent to fund college educations in anything except engineering or the sciences, or educators for same. We have more than enough lawyers.
Mr Charlie
September 16th, 2010
8:38 pm
The irony is, you can put this on Bush too. After 911 they made it harder for illegals to enter our country, so instead of going back to Mexico when the growing season ends, they stayed in our country and brought in their families. Fact is, they are here, and unless we are going to go back to the Ann Frank days of hiding in the attic, they are staying. This is especailly the case since a sizable portion of our military is latino.
I am actually with CT on this one.
Mr Charlie
September 16th, 2010
8:42 pm
My experience with hispanics is they are honest, hard working, loyal, and self reliant.
I wish I could say that about my experiences with all minorities.
Kamchak
September 16th, 2010
8:45 pm
My experience with hispanics is they are honest, hard working, loyal, and self reliant.
What part of that negates the fact that hiring them is illegal?
bootney farnsworth
September 16th, 2010
8:52 pm
what an idiotic, moronic, profoundly stupid idea.
tell you what: when my kids can be illegal in Mexico, get a free education and citizenship for ripping off Mexican citizens….
then talk to me
T-Town
September 16th, 2010
8:54 pm
“What part of that negates the fact that hiring them is illegal?”
What part of that negates the we are paying for their education and giving employers breaks on employing them?
bootney farnsworth
September 16th, 2010
8:54 pm
it’s real stinkin’ simple.
I’m broke enough as it is. I do not want, nor should I be required to pay for the education in any way, shape, or form, of someone who is here ILLEGALLY!
Mr Charlie
September 16th, 2010
8:57 pm
Kammy, I never said “what part of illegal” do you not understand.
But I did notice that you did not care to comment on my observation that the tea party generation (you know, the flat earthers with racist elements) also led the world in higher education.
Yet the of Obammy votin’ generation who mock them (you know, the ones who can’t figure out how to operate a pair of pants) are getting smoked in education by 3rd world countries with 1/10 the resources.
Oh the irony.
bootney farnsworth
September 16th, 2010
8:57 pm
as to the alleged need of college grads in the US.
I work at a local college. our graduation numbers are
overflowing. real live, LEGAL graduates.
and we’re not alone.
so much for that line of insanity and stupidity.
bootney farnsworth
September 16th, 2010
8:59 pm
Cynthia’s Dream is a freaking nightmare to responsible people.
T-Town
September 16th, 2010
8:59 pm
If we can not get jobs of our own children with college degrees, why should I support a plan to have more educated IA?
Mr Charlie
September 16th, 2010
9:05 pm
T-Town, the economy will roll once Obammy is voted out. Companies are awash in cash, but they will not invest in jobs until we get this tax/healthcare/union nonsense resolved. Once we get the “ruler” outta there, the economy will roll.