A Dream Deferred: Undocumented Students
at CUNY by Carolina Bank
Muños is a critique of how a flawed immigration system has denied undocumented
students access to a college education by creating many barriers that deny
these students the opportunity for upward mobility. For example, Muños
describes the struggles of one her students, Luisa, who like many undocumented
students in America was brought into the United States by her parents at a
young age. Luisa as described by Muños had to attend a community college after
graduating from high school with a 3.8 GPA because she could not afford to pay
for a 4- year college. Luisa also had to work full time in
order to save money to enter a 4 year college. It took Luisa almost 5 years to
be able to enroll into a full time college because her illegal status made it
impossible for her to receive any federal aid from the government. Yet, like
many American born students Luisa graduated from a public high school and the
only home that she knows is here in the United States.
So why does the immigration system
deny these students the opportunity to obtain a permanent residence or green
card, which would allow them to have access to a college education and better
job opportunities if these student have learned the English language and have
lived in the United States their entire lives? Muños answers this question by saying that,
“Undocumented students are systematically denied access to a college education
by a flawed immigration system that has roots in institutionalized racism. At
its root, contemporary immigration policy is inherently flawed because it seeks
an individual solution to a structural problem.” In other words, immigrants of
color are inassimilable in the United States because of the color of their skin
despite the fact that the U.S economic and trade policies are responsible for
the increase in immigration from Mexico and other Latin American countries.
Therefore, undocumented students are denied any opportunity for social mobility
because they are not wanted in this nation because their race is unfavorable.
Due to this flawed immigration
system as discussed by Muños it is very unlikely to see a progressive
immigration reform in the near future. Therefore, it is crucial that a federal
policy like the Dream Act, which would provide a pathway for citizenship for
undocumented students, to be passed. Since, education is important for social mobility it
is necessary that undocumented students gain access to it. Many undocumented students are struggling because of this flawed
immigration system and this needs to change because they should be acknowledged and treated as the Americans
that they are. The Dream Act will open many doors for undocumented
students where they will be able to achieve their own American Dreams.
Below I attached a video from Democracy now where, Lorella Praeli, a student from Connecticut describes the
struggles she had to endure when she applied to college because she was not able
to apply for FAFSA due to the fact the she did not have a social security
number, an adversity in which Praeli describes as her introduction of what it
meant to be an undocumented student and what led her to become a Dream Act
activist. Both Praeli and Jose Antonio Vargas emphasize how important it was for them
for raise awareness of the flaws in the immigration system. If individuals like
Praeli and Jose ignored the issue of undocumented students like many Americans
today have chosen to, then there will be very little hope for undocumented
students to obtain a higher education and they will be unable to have any
social mobility. Another interesting part of this interview is that both Praeli
and Vargas use the phrase “Coming out” to show that they will no longer hide in
the shadows of this nation and that they will come forward to advocate change and
encourage others to keep fighting for immigrant rights.
Question: Do you think undocumented students should have the same rights as American born students? Should the Dream act be passed?
This blog post bought about one of the most important topics of the U.S today. I believe that Obama is in the process of passing the law allowing the students to obtain residency only if they have came into the U.S with VISA's but not if they came in completely illegally. I always thought students and illegal immigrants who have been in the U.S for over 10 years should be granted atleast residency. However, Americans argue that immigrants are taking over jobs since they get paid to do much more for cheaper salaries. But if you think about it the same Americans that believe this will not stand to do the "dirty jobs" that immigrants take over so why would they even comment. So the real law should be granted for all not just students but the illegal immigrants who came in passing through all states and deserts in order to pursue the "American Dream". But back to students Students should be given the opportunity to pursue a education without having the barriers of an undocumented status because many of them can be future doctors, researchers, and engineers.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you because many of these students struggle to pay for an undergrad education and unfortunately they are unable to attend grad school and other professional schools. They should be given the opportunity to succeed in this nation.
DeleteI loved in the interview when he said that immigration is every American's issue. Just because it is not happening to us personally does not mean that it is not our fight. America was built on helping those in need, be it on our land or somewhere else. It hit home when he said that he didn't realize anything was wrong or undocumented until he went to the DMV. How many undocumented immigrants are in public American schools now that won't even realize they will have trouble until they try to get into college? I cannot imagine the stress of knowing that at any minute you could be sent away from the home you've grown up in for the past ten or more years. It is becoming more apparent that if anything is to change at all in this country, there needs to be a unity between all of us.
ReplyDeleteUndocumented students should absolutely have access to all opportunities regarding education. I do not believe that a student, a person who is grasping for an education in order to reach their full potential, deserves to be oppressed based on the decisions (or in this case, misfortunes) of their parents. The undocumented students probably did not have a choice on the matter of moving to America, or being born here. Why should they suffer from the effects of their ancestry, or the inability of their family to move to America and immediately file for citizenship? The fact that ANYONE is not eligible for financial aid is a travesty in itself. When the situation of financial aid is then applied to undocumented persons, who is probably an underpaid worker or whose parents are paid minimally, this becomes even more troubling. The Dream Act absolutely should be passed. I attended a rally in Philly in 2010 that promoted the act, and the stories that I heard from the brave, undocumented students, consisted of words that echo in my head until this day. One young girl spoke with such vigor and enthusiasm regarding her education, but when she spoke about the laws of the U.S. that constrained her from continuing her education, her speech became an upsetting story- a story of an undocumented student who could not even consider attending a four year university. This story is all too common, and the struggles of the undocumented person, whether it be an undocumented student or laborer, they deserve the rights that they came to America to enjoy. No one deserves their rights to be taken away, and this is a sentiment that has been shared throughout many blog posts. Why should someone lacking a number identifier (SS), have limits to how far they rise within society?
ReplyDeleteI have heard many stories too and they are heartbreaking. These students should be given the same opportunity and be given a path for citizenship, since they were brought here from a very young age.
DeleteYes, agreed. Whether they were brought here at a young age, or born here, people are people and no one should ever be denied the right to an affordable education.
DeleteI really liked this blog post. I believe that undocumented students should have the same rights as American born students. I believe that Obama has taken a great step in terms of redefining immigration. As Lorella said in the interview, having a social security number does not make us more or less of a person, we are all human and should be treated equally. I have not lived this myself, but I see how some of my friends who are undocumented are struggling to pay for college. I believe that immigration policies in this country need to change, and people need to realize that undocumented individuals (workers, children, students, etc) are not so different as some americans think. They have the same dreams and hopes as any American born.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree that the DREAM Act needs to be passed. I work in a high school where over the past 12 years I've seen many of our top 5% percent of graduates struggle with their post-secondary plans, because they cannot pay for school and are not eligible for financial assistance because of their immigration status. It is not fair. Many of them do not even speak another language and completely identify as Americans. It angers me that their positive performance stats are used to boost NYC DOE data and then we just graduate them out and forget about them. I am happy that I've had many students return to get the required documentation for Deferred Action which was made possible this past summer. This gives undocumented immigrants two years during which they cannot be deported and can work legally. I think this is progress, however what happens at the end of those two years? Many of these people are afraid that by applying for Deferred Action they are putting themselves at risk of being identified and being deported after the two years are up. Also, this does not solve the problem of these students having to pay tuition. The DREAM Act must be passed.
ReplyDeleteI believe undocumented students should get the same rights as any American person. I really hope that soon the Dream Act would be passed, so all these students can have the rights like many of us. There are many students who want to become doctors, scientists, teachers and other professions, but still there is the barrier that hold back their dreams. It is a very frustrating to be a Senior in high school and everyone talking about their colleges' plans while the person who can't just wish they could say the same things. It is time for the Dream Act to be passed, so these students could reach their goals and be the future of this country like all of us will.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the Dream Act should be passed. President Obama has done a great job in taking steps to change immigration laws in the United States.If these undocumented students were in the American school system since they were young children they deserve to receive a higher education just as much as their peers. They shouldn't be deprived of succeeding in life due to the fact that they don't have a social security number. After all, the majority of Americans are immigrants or our ancestors were immigrants so to discriminate against someone who is an illegal immigrant is hypocritical.
ReplyDeleteThe decision of granting illegal students citizenship is a very important and controversial topic in the U.S today. The article “A Dream Differed” was a very interesting article and eye opening for me, because it made me understand the importance of the Dream Act as well as, the reasons for why it’s so hard for low income immigrant families to break the cycle that keeps them from progressing. Munoz contributes much of the problem of this flawed immigration system to institutionalized racism. I think this is very true because although the United States likes to see itself as an equal country that is not racist many decisions made by the government say otherwise. I think one of the problems in this country is that there are many people that are against the “Dream Act” because by granting citizenship to illegal people they gain equality and the same rights as a U.S citizen an idea that many people are not comfortable with. To answer the question of whether or not the Dream Act should be passed? Yes I do believe that it should be passed. Allowing students who are bright and young to contribute to our society befits us all. I think that it is also important because it allows for minorities to move up and to progress in this country. I think that people have to stop seeing this as an issue that only affect illegal students but instead as an issue that affect us all one way or another, as a nation we should want to see people that are living in this country progress rather than beating them further down to the ground for issues of race, because either way illegal people are not going anywhere any time soon.
ReplyDeleteI think the most profound finding in this article is the fact the U.S. trade policies are the root cause of increased immigration. Most anti-immigration legislation relies on the isolationist notion that immigrants are moving from one closed system (their home country) to another closed system (the U.S.), ignoring the global economic issues that cause these immigrants to leave their home countries in the first place. As a result, we see this xenophobic reactionary portrayal of immigrants as freeloaders trying to steal American jobs, and as much of a caricature as that seems to be, national public immigration policy is informed by these misconceptions. And, as we see in this article, even after successful immigration into the U.S., the wall against social and economic progression of immigrant families holds strong.
ReplyDelete@ThroughTheDin, I think your points actually belong to the post "Places and People: The New American Mosaic"?
DeleteThe Dream Act should definitely be passed. I've worked with some Dream activists in the past, and they are some of the most determined and ambitious students I've ever interacted with. All they want is to be able to finish their educations and move on to a stable career without the burden that being undocumented thrusts on them. Especially considering the facts that immigration has been impacted by U.S. economic policy and so many of these students have been living here since they were children, I don't think it's an unfair request to ask that a path be provided for them to advance in life just like those who were born here.
ReplyDeleteI definelty agree with illegal immigrants obtaining a legal status in this country to study or work. In one of my other classes there is a girl who recently,under the Obama administration, who recieved her papers because she came here to study. She told the class of her struggle and her siblings struggle and began to cry in front of all of us. She says that not only is it hard for her to raise the money, but she faces barriers everywhere she goes. She said that although it was very stressful for her she found that the struggles united her and her siblings because they all cheered eachother on. In the end it goes to show that we are all human and no matter what we should be given that chance to move foward. Just because people are of illegal status,doesnt mean they are criminals,or a waste. We should not pass blind judgement. We should help all those who want to progress and succeed. This may be there only chance to do it.
ReplyDeleteUndocumented students should have the same rights as American born students. They should not be penalized for something they did not chose and had no control over, being brought to the US as children. These students grow up in the US, sometimes unaware of their status, contribute to their communities and work and pay taxes, contrary to popular belief. They are citizens in all but name. As more and more undocumented people, mostly of color, join our workforce, creating barriers for undocumented citizens to receive an education continues a system where those people are stuck in low income jobs with few ways out. It also serves to widen the racial divides in our education system and workforce. For undocumented citizens to be able to receive an education benefits not only them, but American born citizens as well. The Dream Act needs to work out a few provisions such as the "good moral character" clause, but a means for undocumented citizens who have grown up in the US to be able to attain citizenship with definitely needs to be passed.
ReplyDeleteOf course the dream act should be passed and undocumented students born into unfortunate circumstances deserve the same rights as American born children. This topic also brings to mind the depressing immigration policies the United States currently holds. It is interesting to consider how an act addressing undocumented students' education came first to Congress rather than the millions of families in the United States who also deserve the same rights as Americans. Not saying that one issue is more important than the other, just noticing how it seems to be easier for the government to address a part of the immigration issues in the US rather than as a whole. If families are granted residencies and citizenships in a much more reasonable manner than how many more students today would have already graduated from college? Immigration policies in America is another way that our nation's institution reinforce the race, class and gender inequalities that don't seem to go away.
ReplyDeleteI definitely believe the Dream Act should be passed and also agree redrose's comment above. There is no reason why students who are studious, intelligent and hardworking should be denied the opportunity to continue their education because of the state of their citizenship. It seems completely regressive for anti-immigration advocates to justify their racism by claiming that all immigrants are capable of doing are living off “American” and not contributing to society in critically beneficial ways while denying the only possibility for immigrants to expand their education get lucrative and socially beneficial careers. I also believe that the only reason why the Dream Act and what it entails has been avoided or ignored is because of inherent racism and conventional stereotypes that isolate and limit the opportunities of non-native born Americans and immigrants
ReplyDeleteI do think that undocumented students should have the same rights as American born students. The part of the Dream Act that makes sense to me is kids under the age of 15 should be granted the same rights and be eligible for federal aid & student loans. These children obviously had no choice but to come with their parents to the United States, most likely because of the parents economic instability/situation.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do think that children should be able to gain citizenship a whole lot easier, in terms of what the Dream Act states, "moral behavior" is a little ambiguous in the terms and conditions.
Although it is exceptionally difficult for these young adults to get loans, America won't let college students who are citizens legal under the age of 24 apply for FAFSFA without their parent's tax information, unless they are emancipated, which is exactly what happened to me, forcing me to pay out of pocket, drift in and out of school, unless I wanted to take out loans with immediate/high interest.
I feel that America makes it increasingly difficult for many of us to have access to higher education, and the fact that these individuals stick with it is truly inspiring. Hopefully the Dream Act can be passed and it can get us on the road for large scale change.
Very informative video! In my opinion i believe that it is these undocumented students who reflect what being an American truly is with their hard work and determination to succeed within a country that is not their own. With that being said i believe that these students indeed deserve the right to an affordable education. I feel as though america has has turned its back on the key fundamental building blocks that has made us such a great nation. this country was founded and created by the hands of immigrants. The video depicts how undocumented students have to live in secrecy of their status but with the passing of the dream act this will no longer be a burden to them. the video also shows how an undocumented person can still rise above and succeed in being a not only thriving contributing member of american society but also a person apart of a Pulitzer prize winning team.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad this issue was brought up as many of my classmates have agreed I to believe the Dream Act should be passed. Many of us have parents who are immigrants or have friends who ate immigrants so we know the struggles of this issue. Just because people are not born in America doesn't mean they shouldn't have the same opportunities as Americans. People who are not born in America are human beings just like everyone else. If they work just as hard or even harder then Americans why should they be denied the opportunities Americans have access too. The world is just unfair and biased to who they choose to be bias to.
ReplyDeleteReading Comment: I really found an interest in this reading about immigrant students and their issues with school. I was aware of the immigration crisis, but not to what extinct this problems existed. To find out that even though a person resided in a certain residence for over the required time period that they would still be charged the out of state rate, I find it quite insensitive. Being a more fortunate immigrant who came to America at 6 months and automatically had a green card, I completely feel for those who come here as children and become liable for their parents short comings. I hope that the Obama administration find make it better, because American was built on immigration therefore should be fare to those seeking the better life it has to offer.
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