The constant topic of immigration policies and the current
election year, have and will bring many changes to current college students.
There is a current issue of what undocumented immigrants that are college
students will face, whether it is deportation or the lack of options once they
receive their diploma.
While the
DREAM Act has been signed and for many students is still a dream it will have a
large affect on students in higher education and the possibility for students
thinking to enter higher education. In a summary by the National Immigration
Law Center (2011), the DREAM Act also known as the Development, Relief, and
Education for Alien Minors Act would allow certain immigrants to apply for
temporary legal status and eventually permanent legal status and be eligible
for US citizenship if they serve in the military or attend college. While many
supporters, including students, of the Act are attempting to have it signed by
Congress; many face deportation for announcing their own immigration status.
This summer President Obama enacted
a new policy in which students that are undocumented immigrants may receive
two-year deferment of deportation if they meet eligibility requirements (US Department of Homeland Security, 2012). Deferments
may be renewed and they may apply to receive work authorization in the United
States (US Department of Homeland Security,
2012). Although not a solution to the current immigration issues many
supporters of the DREAM Act feel it is a significant step but students are
still unsure of where this will leave them. Olivas, director
of the Institute for Higher Education Law and Governance at the University of
Houston, states that students are still in a “limbo” with their
education, many are pursuing degrees without knowing if they will be able to
continue a career in the United States (as cited in Jaschik, 2012). This lack
of certainty poses a great consideration for students graduating high school
that have an undocumented immigration status. Jaschick (2012), mentions the
ease in which one student at Texas-El Paso thinks it easy to ask what is the
point if there is no chance of a job.
Although the issue of immigration
is largely a political debate, the policy made on the issue will greatly affect
the realm of higher education. Immigration policy will affect a vast amount of
students nationally, making changes in college admissions, college retention,
and graduation rates. According to Passel (2003) and the Urban Institute there
are nationally an estimated 7,000-13,000 undocumented students enrolled in
college that have lived in the United States for five years or longer and have
graduated from a U.S. high school. Undocumented students are a part of these
rates and their ability to stay in the country and pursue a career will affect
their ability to attend universities and complete their degrees.
References
Jaschick, S. (2012, June 18).
Part of the dream. Inside Higher Ed.
Retrieved from http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/06/18/obama-wont-deport undocumented-students.
National Immigration Law
Center. (2011). DREAM act: Summary. http://www.nilc.org/dreamsummary.html
Passel, J. (2003). Further
demographic information relating to the DREAM act. The Urban Institute, Retrieved from
http://www.nationalimmigrationreform.org/proposed/DREAM/UrbanInstituteDREAM.pdf
US Department
of Homeland Security. (2012). Secretary
Napolitano announces deferred action
process for young people who are low enforcement priorities. Retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/news/2012/06/15/secretary-napolitano-announces-deferred-action-process young-people-who-are-low
I am a supporter of the DREAM Act, especially the provision that allows these students to become citizens in the process of obtaining a college degree. Years ago, I had a friend that was a student at a state university here in SoCal, and he had a job at a local school district. He needed extra money and got a job at a retail store. They couldn't verify his ssn, and let him go after a few weeks. I am really troubled that these students are spending large amounts of money to obtain an education but will not be able to obtain a job once they graduate. This law is meant to benefit individuals brought here as youngsters by their parents; they had no choice in the decision to immigrate. I do not support punishing them for the decisions of their parents. I hope we are able to come to a compromise and pass the DREAM Act with the citizenship/permanent residency provision intact.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, I had not considered the employment prospects of students who attend college through the DREAM Act. It is frustrating to think that students who arrive in the United States without a legal status, through not fault of their own, must struggle to make a living here. I would be interested in learning more about the process of becoming a US citizen and what can be done to help students obtain permanent citizenship while they obtain their degree.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Will. Politics aside- these are human beings who are alienated and made to feel inferior because of something that was out of their control. The story of the young woman who praised President Obama at the DNC for supporting the DREAM Act was heart-breaking. And she's not alone. I'm sure we all have at least one friend or know someone who has to deal with the fear of possible deportation, could not afford to attend college, or if they were lucky enough to attend college, their degree is meaningless because they can't work. As advocates for higher education, we need to support policy reform that will promote college access and greater life opportunities in general.
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ReplyDeleteGreen Act will allow undocumented students to be able to apply for temporary work permit for a couple of years. However, it leaves one to question if these immigrants are really getting a dream come true, or simply being used by politicians. That is to say, why has this act not been passed long before the upcoming election period? I am glad Green Act has created hope for those who need it. Although, I am still concern with the seemingly unrelated but plentiful unsolved issues with higher education in the US as a collective whole. Also, I feel those issues need to be addressed before a large influx of students attend colleges in the United States. In Addition, I hope undocumented students who qualify become legal immigrants and eventually get their citizenship so they can work in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteHigher education is not only providing degrees, but also providing more opportunities to achieve goals and fulfill dreams. As perfessionals in general, it is important to understand minorities needs, and not being used by people who own privilege.
ReplyDeleteThe DREAM Act is a controversial issue, politics and education is interrelated. As student affairs professionals, it is our duty to oversee the future of education and what issues students are currently undergoing. Is it unethical to deny the right of an education simply because students were not born in the country? Doesn't the United States promote study abroad programs so that students become immersed in foreign countries and adapt to other cultures? Then it makes no sense to deny the right to an education and employment to students who demonstrate persistence, courage, and motivation to better themselves and their families. Colleges and universities pride in recruiting international students because that means more money for their schools. This sounds unethical because the education system is seeking students who can produce profits ($) rather than accepting the students who may lack the monetary component but who can contribute their knowledge, skills, and experiences to the institution.
ReplyDeleteI think the DREAM Act is a contentious issue. Educational policies such as DREAM Act are extremely important to pay special attention to because of the direct affect it has on a specific student population in higher education. Higher education is political and though systemic ways may not always put students first, as student affairs professionals, it is our responsibility to be informed about policies in order to help our students to the best of our ability. I believe all students who wish to pursue a degree (citizen or not), should be given the right to do so without it being a pain. Also, It has never really crossed my mind the employment challenges undocumented students may encounter even after receiving a degree. I think that is extremely important to take note, because if an undocumented student is able to successfully finish college, then getting a job/career should not be hindered solely because they are undocumented.
ReplyDeleteThis is a population of students I don't think we talk about enough in our classes. It is very saddening to know that these students work just as hard as any other student, they put their work in, study, pay their fees, and graduate, only to find out they can't get a job. Makes me wonder if they are made aware of the grim job prospects they face once they graduate. As student affairs professionals, we are constantly looking to identify new student populations, so that we may be able to better tailor our services to them in an attempt to help them through their college experience. Currently, one population of students who we are beginning to routinely talk about is first-generation students. I believe that, more often than not, undocumented students are also the first in their families to attend a university. Does this take their struggle through the university a step further? Do these students stress out more? Are they able to maneuver through the college experience like any other student? I believe it is important that we begin to take aim at the issues that they face more consistently. We all need to be more aware of the struggles these students face so that we may be better prepared to be resources for undocumented students. -Gerry
ReplyDeleteUp until I attended a NASPA panel on undocumented students, I was unaware of the extent of the administrative and personal hurdles being faced. For some students, their undocumented status is a central part of their identity. So much that it is tantamount to “coming out.” Revealing their status can lead to stigmatization, administrative problems, and even deportation. These are a lot of risks to think about on a daily basis. William Perez from the Claremont Graduate School does research around undocumented students and identity, which is not an often discussed topic. There is an upcoming AB540 Conference at Cal State Fullerton on Sept. 28 which I’m sure will be very informative as the DREAM Act is still ambiguous for many of us.
ReplyDeleteI think Rosalynn’s blog post brings up a very good point in that discussions about undocumented students usually revolve around financing their educations and not enough around how to assist them after completing their degrees, whether that means finding employment or continuing on to graduate school. The signing of the California Dream Act and Obama’s new policy are important steps forward but there definitely remains a lot to be done to help undocumented students truly reach their educational and professional aspirations.
ReplyDeleteA good start however would be for all of us, as student affairs professionals, to become informed about the challenges these students face and existing resources. I think it’s necessary for universities to make it well known to everyone on campus who the go to experts in undocumented student issues are within different offices so that people know exactly who to turn to if they ever need help—especially in financial aid and academic advising offices, and career and counseling services. Publicizing who these experts are to the entire student population might put undocumented students at ease since they may have less fear about self-disclosing their immigration status to someone they are certain is a trusted and knowledgeable resource in the issues they face. These experts could also connect students to existing groups on and off campus that focus on providing support for the undocumented.--Adriana Garcia
According to the Pew Hispanic Research Center it is estimated that there are approximately 65,000 undocumented students graduating from high school each year, and only 5-10% of them pursue a higher education. Most of these students were brought by their parents as young children to this country, and many have acculturated into the American culture. Many of these students identify with the 1.5 generation, which refers to individuals who have a hard time balancing two worlds: Born elsewhere, but whose identification is American. Throughout my undergraduate education, I built friendships with amazing individuals who were undocumented, and learned of the many challenges they experienced. I think that it is unfortunate to have to worry about the constant fear of deportation where ever you go, paying a ridiculous amount for out of state tuition fees, worrying about securing employment after graduation, and being stigmatized by society. I believe that the DREAM ACT and Differed Action will definitely help these students’ higher education dreams become more attainable. I also believe that as student affairs professionals, it is our job to help find resources and gain knowledge on the policies and practices to help these students.
ReplyDelete-Rosemary Rangel
The political implications are great especially in a time of elections. Governor Romney has made it clear that if he is elected president he will do away with the Deferred Action provision. In other words the two years to avoid deportation will be done away with. He did however state that he will allow the first two years of deferred action for those who were qualified already. The fear for this student population is what will happen to them after the first two years since they have made public their undocumented status. We need to consider these provisions when voting from a social justice perspective.
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