Undocumented Students From The United States

Undocumented students are becoming a growing outrage in the United States. It has been a constant battle amongst the students, the schools, and the Government. According to collegeboard.com, statistics shows that 65,000 undocumented students graduate from U.S. high schools each year (collegeboard.com).After graduating high school they face legal and financial barriers to higher education. This paper will address the importance of this growing outrage and discuss the following that corresponds to it.

In “Undocumented students’ Access to College: The American Dream Denied,” Chavez, Soriano and Olivia (2007) have stated that millions of students who live in United States are undocumented immigrants; most of them come to U.S at a very young age. They completed their high school and achieved great academic success, some of them even got admitted by well know universities. From 2002 onwards , Assembly Bill 540 (AB 540) , authorized by the late Marco Antonio Firebaugh , allows any student who has completed three years high school, and received a high school diploma or equivalent in California, regardless of their immigration status, are legally allowed to attend colleges and universities (Chavez,Soriano and Oliverez 256).Even though they are eligible to apply and be admitted to universities, but they are not eligible to apply for federal financial aid, without the help of financial aid, it is extremely difficult for them to afford tuition. In this case, it severely limits undocumented student’s chances for upward mobility.

The DREAM Act plays a big role in the nation’s effort to have the highest proportion of graduates in the world by 2020 (Miranda). Allowing this to pass would reduce the drop out rate significantly all throughout the country. 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school every year. In Luis Miranda’s Get The Facts On The Dream Act, Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan has stated that passing the Dream Act will allow “these young people to live up to their fullest potential and contribute to the economic growth of our country.” It gives students the incentive to go through school and get a degree. When undocumented students are attending school, some colleges wont accept them. Knowing that, they do not have the drive or interest in pursuing a college degree. A lot of immigrants now will finish high school, get there diploma, then go find a job. Having this bill passed will change the education in the United States forever.

Many undocumented citizens graduate high school or obtain a GED diploma, but cannot apply to college or even obtain employment legally due to their status. Even if a student can be enrolled in college, valuable and necessary services such as financial aid will not be available to them because they are undocumented. This most often results in sending this person back to their home country, otherwise known as

Many of the undocumented students were brought to the United States at a very young age, not by their choice but of their parents. With great potential and willingness to succeed, many do not have the same opportunities as those of their peers. Millions of students have filed their deferred act in hope of getting an opportunity

An educational reform in higher education would eliminate the many educational and occupational barriers undocumented students face today. By permitting access to undocumented students into postsecondary education and earn a degree would eliminate poverty and unemployment levels in the country. It is essential to give as many young people undocumented or not the opportunity to enroll and succeed in postsecondary education to strengthen the economy of the United States. The younger generations are the future of this country and undocumented students are not the exception. These young students also play an important part in society today and if given the opportunity to earn a professional degree will most definitely impact American society in the years to come.

As an undocumented immigrant, there are not as much jobs available. It is illegal to work. Many usually finds some type of low-skill jobs to make money to survive. Undocumented immigrants

Approximately 200,000 to 225,000 undocumented immigrants enroll in American institutions of higher education and represent 2 percent of all students in college (Suarez-Orozco, Katsiaficas, Birchall, Alcantar, & Hernandez, 2015). Undocumented students have low rates of enrollment to programs of higher education in comparison to documented students. When undocumented students begin college, they go through struggles to adapt and assimilate to college life. As a result of feeling disconnected to the campus they attend, undocumented students may look for different options for support, such as clubs and centers offered for students. In recent years, there have been legal changes set in place to support the success of undocumented students enrolled in higher education, which include in state tuition, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities. These changes have given undocumented students more choices and access to

Being an undocumented college student can be very difficult, there are many economical and emotional barriers. College tuition doubles when you are undocumented and must be a resident of the state you’d like to attend school in. Some schools require you to be US born in other to attend the school. Fortunately, Deferred Action for Childhood

In recent months, undocumented immigrants across the country have been stripped of their rights. One thing that is on the minds of many citizens nationwide, is whether or not undocumented immigrants should receive instate tuition in the states they reside in. More specifically, it means whether undocumented students should pay higher rates than citizens to attend a university or college even if their work ethic is smarter than those with citizenship. More importantly, we’re oppressing, discriminating, and alienating a whole group of people due tour pride getting in our way. Particularly, undocumented students and their parents are getting affected by this situation as the whole point they came here was to have their children or themselves

In 2001 California and Texas put legislation in place so Undocumented Students can receive in- state tuition rates. There are some requirements for students to receive the rates. Undocumented students must live in state and attend high school for a specified period (1-4 years), and graduate or receive their GED. Students must be accepted to a public college or university,and must show proof that they are going  to file for legal immigration status.Currently, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and Washington allow undocumented students to receive in- states tuition rates.

Attention-Getter: Can any of you guess the number of undocumented students enrolled in college throughout the United States? According to the Educators For Fair Consideration fact sheet, there are about 7,000 - 13,000.

When I was in high school, I witnessed first had the lack of attention and help undocumented students were given when it came to receiving help with the college application process. My junior and senior year, I dedicated most of my free time to helping my classmates who were undocumented. I would assist them in their search for scholarship as well as looking over their applications and college essays.

The undocumented students that will benefit from the Dream Act are students that are practically U.S citizens but not by birth. Some opponents to the Dream Act don’t realize how much these students have suffered throughout their life. The article, “Standing up for Immigrant Students,” mentions all of these hardships and struggles; children are exposed to many dangers when crossing the border, and once they settle in the U.S they face other hardships and struggles like learning a new language, meeting the expectations of their instructors, and being discriminated against (4-5). Despite the obstacles they encounter in their path, many manage the way to do well in school and many overpass American students and become leaders in their community. Being undocumented becomes a major issue for undocumented high school graduates who want to continue their education because it’s nearly impossible to attend a University and get federal help because a valid social security number is required. These young adults are some of the best and brightest students in this country;

Undocumented students hold a strong presence in many U.S. colleges and universities. As a matter of fact, it is said that more than 50,000 college students in the United States are undocumented. This is around the population of Elkhart, Indiana. With there being a high presence of undocumented students, it was a surprise to discover out that many of them do not receive any support and are often forgotten. This problem is especially a problem now with the current status of DACA students. The undocumented students who were supported by DACA are now left in the dust, without any other type of support and care. This not only affects the undocumented students here at Indiana University – Bloomington but all around the United States. Now, many undocumented students are faced with the reality of deportation, to a country they know nothing about. They did not have a say in coming to the U.S. since many undocumented students come at a very young age. They have spent most of their lives here, for many this is all they know. For this reason, I believe it is unjustly to not give undocumented students the same support documented students have.