United States, the “land of opportunity” as many foreigners have quoted, but it is it really the land of opportunity? Or is it the land of opportunity to a select few? Being a foreigner and a long time immigrant living in the U.S, I have always wondered why is it so hard for the American society to finally accept foreigners and undocumented immigrants not only into our communities but also into the schooling system, specifically when it comes to higher education. Why can’t law abiding undocumented immigrants have access to in-state-tuition in their respectable states? They have lived here for many years, following the rules, graduating from high schools with outstanding grades, volunteered and taken part in their community. Why should these children (now young adults) who were brought into the country illegally as children be considered criminals for the choices their parents made for them. Why has the government not stepped in? Why have they been ignoring the DREAM Act and refuted the bill at the senate table for the past decade? This issue is very important to me because I have lived in the U.S for nearly twenty years now. Currently there is no and there has not been any legal reform, nor a legal mechanism for many like myself to adjust to legal status. I like many, derive legal status from my parents. If our parents are here as undocumented immigrants and brought us as young children to the states, there is no mechanism for many of us young adults to begin an immigration process. We don’t have access to in-state-tuition in the states that we grew up in even though we were raised all our lives here. Living in peace for many of us is not an option. We live in the shadows and live a different life than any other person who is considered a legal American. You would imagine that it’s easy and accessible for a lot of foreigners (Latinos/Hispanics specifically) to attend college, but have you thought about those who came into the U.S as children? Illegally? What about those who came into the U.S legally through a visa but their families decided to stay and start a new life, a better life not only for them but for their children? Unfortunately they decided to stay longer than the visa permitted them and are now considered illegal. I have always questioned why do so many states deny undocumented students the chance to be considered as in-state-residents when it comes to attending colleges and universities and applying for in-state-tuition? Like I stated before, they have lived here for many years, decades in most cases. I would like to find out why so many people are opposed to this. I would like to view different viewpoints and opinions on this topic through my research from governors, senators as well as the American population in general.
