The Nightmare Act

As I mentioned in my previous post I wanted to find out the reasons or motives why a lot of people from the other side of this issue see the DREAM ACT as either a divided or an unacceptable issue. 

In “In-State Tuition for Undocumented Students” author Katherine, at Legal Language from Legal Language Services gives an overview of how things go down in higher education systems. How undocumented students can qualify for In-State tuition and how this can help undocumented students. The introduction quickly drew me in with its statistic: “of the 2.8 million students that graduate from high school every year, about 65,000 are undocumented students. For many of the 65,000, it is where their education in America ends”. I think her use of statistics was good but I was wish she would have had more. Like how many of those graduates actually attend college while paying out-of state tuition? Nevertheless it left me with new information about how many undocumented students graduate each year something that I didn’t know about. At the end of her article she points out a paragraph that focuses on one of my main questions: “Why Are People Divided About Giving In-State Tuition to Undocumented Students?” 

 The author states that those who oppose the DREAM ACT and in-state tuition feel/believe that it rewards illegal behavior while encouraging illegal immigration making U.S taxpayers to be contributing to the education “of young adults living here against the law”. I can see why Americans would label them indirectly as criminals if they are here illegally. It makes sense coming from their stance. I ask myself “Are U.S Citizens only considered taxpayers?” Are undocumented immigrants not considered taxpayers regardless of all the years they’ve lived in the U.S and have contributed to the economy by paying taxes? Do most Americans believe that undocumented/illegal people get away without paying taxes? What am I considered if I pay taxes to support the education of other “criminals” like myself who wish to pursue higher education? This raised another question that I want to search for. Who is considered a taxpayer in the U.S? Does it reward illegal behavior by letting young adults have access to higher education and how? I wonder if Legal Language Services can be trusted. I like the article it brought forth new insights but I am not sure if they are for or against this issue. Could they be biased?

Another article that I found was surprising. It was a taste of what I was exactly looking for: personal comments from many people who are on the opposition side. These readers have read an article that was published by the Los Angeles Times and are now strongly responding against it.

The Article “Opinion L.A, Observations and Provocations from The Times’ opinion staff” regarding comments on the initial article “California Dream Act, part two: Rewarding illegal actions? [Most Commented]” published September 16, 2011 by The Los Angeles Times overviews the initial article’s point; the editorial board who recently wrote to encourage Gov. Jerry Brown to sign AB 131(the second part of the California Dream Act). AB 131 would allow undocumented/illegal students to earn degrees but still would not have the right to work here. According to the article, only congress has the power to pass such legislation providing a path to legalization and a green card. Hence the fact that many politicians are opposed to it. Readers responded to the opposition of the bill. Here are some quotes that I found very noteworthy to discuss.

“America needs to deport all illegals to reduce unemployment/ poverty rate. California Nightmare act steals money for law-abiding tax payers and gives it to thieves. These scholarship should help educate Americans and legal immigrants.”—PDXOregon

“This will cost (estimated at $38 million) our bankrupt State, will cost Legal Students by denying them places in higher education, and a loss of financial aid and put Illegal Alien Students to the front of the line defying the rule of law.”–DonHonda

Although I have not read the initial article entirely, it leaves me to point out some things right out of the bat. AB 131 would let undocumented students earn a degree but not have the right to work or execute their career? Don’t we currently have that situation across the country?

Undocumented students already have the option of going to college and attending while paying the out-of-state tuition and getting their degree. Yet when they graduate there is no way for them to go into the workforce. Is it necessary to make a law for a situation that currently goes on? Why also make a law that lets one earn a degree but prohibits the right to work in their field? Is it necessary?

Regarding the quote from individual –PDXOregon all I have to say is:

“How would deporting all illegals reduce unemployment/poverty rate?” Is this statement backed up with evidence and research? And would it actually reduce unemployment/poverty rate? Don Honda also stated that Americans would be “putting Illegal Alien Students to the front of the line defying the rule of law. I wonder in what way would we be put in front of the line? Are undocumented immigrants being put in front of the line before others?  Or would it be more of a competition against one another? 

Another quote that I would like to search into more into is the following:

“First citizenship, then the benefits that come with it 

READ MY POST ABOVE ---they do not want to be LEGAL.  ! GET LEGAL GET NOTHING. Show me where ANY of them have applied for citizenship. Smart enough for college, smart enough to find the immigration office. Smart enough for law school, the smart enough to FOLLOW THE LAW. -- cm mom” 

This raised more question for me; “Do Americans think undocumented immigrants don’t wish to be legalized?” Do most have the idea that it’s a simple task? What is making them have this viewpoint? I would really like to find that out but also look into how hard is it for immigrants to get legalized in the U.S. I still need to know other reasons as to why people oppose this. This was a good discussion article because it derived of off people’s interests and personal beliefs but I would like more defined research based opinions.