DREAM Act: A Gateway to Higher Education for Undocumented Students

This week, I decided to venture out into the blogosphere seeking to build on my last couple of posts in regards to immigrants and higher education in the state of California. In a previous post entitled, “Higher Education: The Debate Over College Tuition and Undocumented Students,” I brought to light and addressed some information pertaining to the DREAM Act. Currently, in the United States both in the private and public sector, higher education is the envy of the world with many people coming to America to pursue what many native born American citizens take for granted; a great education. The United States leads the way in education, particularly in the form of research and innovation. There is much irrefutable evidence of the benefits of obtaining a higher education, both to individuals and to society. According to the United States Census Bureau, the nation median annual income of college graduates without progressive degrees is fifty one thousand seven hundred dollars, while those with simply a high school education earn just over thirty thousand, and those without a high school edification earn less than twenty thousand dollars a year. People with simply a high school education are twice as likely to be unemployed and are three times more likely to require public support than college graduates.

I am a firm believer that a good education helps with the advancement and growth of a person’s critical thinking aptitudes which are essential to succeeding in today’s global society (see top left). Today’s comprehensive global challenges cross many disciplines and require elucidations that bring perspectives that are social and humanistic. Every year, hundreds if not thousands of honor roll students, artistic intellectuals, and star athletes who contribute greatly to our nations growth find their futures constrained by current immigration laws. The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, or commonly referred to as the DREAM Act would allow undocumented immigrants from all over the world the chance to pursue their dreams of becoming a doctor, engineer, or scientist if they desired. For this reason, this week I decided to explore and examine the blogosphere in search of enlightening and edifying works that support and analyze the DREAM Act, and the impact it would have on the lives of many students if the act is passed. My examination has led me to two works that tackle some of the key issues that undocumented students are going through while obtaining a higher education. The first post entitled, “What the California Dream Act Means to Immigrant Children,” written by Joaquin Nabarrete, Associated Students Incorporated president from the California State University of Los Angeles, gives us an insight to what the DREAM Act really stands for, and how undocumented students would benefit from the passing of it. The second post titled, “Students March for DREAM Act,” written by Kat Murti, a journalist for the Daily Californian provides us with information to how far students and teachers are willing to go to in order for their voices to be heard. I offer my comments and opinions to each of the columnist’s posts below.

“What the California Dream Act Means to Immigrant Children”
Comment:
I would first of all like to thank you for your detailed and in-depth post about the DREAM Act. I found your opinions to be very informative and well addressed to the situations many undocumented students are facing when it comes to getting a higher education. I also found your site to be very informative, and a great resource tool when comes to researching other immigration issues. I myself think that the DREAM Act is a great means to reward character, strength, and hard work for undocumented students who did not have a say in whether they wanted to come to the United States or not. I appreciate the poignant interpretations you make when you reference California as the largest immigrant population in the nation, with many cultures and people from all over the world. This shows that the DREAM Act would greatly benefits immigrants from all over the world, not just immigrants of Latin American descent, like most people tend to associate when they read the word immigrant. I think that including the picture of yourself and Senator Gilbert Cedillo really ads credibility to your argument and what you are trying to get across to the reader. Although your post is very didactic and enlightening, and I agree with everything you have to express, it could have been even more helpful and interesting to read what students in your school had to say about the DREAM Act. While you do provide some links to important topics in your piece, I think it would have been very beneficial to have some more, especially for a reader that might not know that much about the subject. I understand that you are for the DREAM Act, but your convictions for it seems biased sometimes when you have no evidence to back up what you have to say. I think you have great arguments for the DREAM Act, and I think that providing as much evidence as possible to back up your argument really helps you come across as a more credible writer, especially with a subject as controversial as immigration. Also, with the DREAM Act being turned down once again do you think there will ever be some type of bill that will help undocumented students at least get financial aid loans in place of grants and scholarships? I believe that with the passing of the DREAM students who graduate from high school and college will help the nation and its economy through their increased future earnings. I would really like to hear your thoughts not only how the DREAM Act would benefit students, but also on how it would help the military as well. Lastly, I appreciate your initiative in getting the word out about the DREAM Act; I think that this act will greatly benefit the United States immensely if it is ever passed. I look forward to hearing from you and discussing this subject matter in the future.

“Students March for DREAM Act”
Comment:
Thank you for a concisely constructed piece. I have recently started to read the Daily Californian after examining some of the works from your colleague, Emily Grospe. After reading one of her posts, I followed a link that brought me to your writings. I was very intrigued with some of the things that are going on at UC Berkley, particularly with immigration and education. It is wonderful to read a piece such as yours where I can in vision what I am reading. It was really great to see that wonderful picture of all those students marching for what they believe is right alongside with their professors. After reading your editorial I really got a feel for what the students really thought and felt due to the current situation of the DREAM Act. I really enjoyed the quotes you provide to your readers as well, specially the one from Senator Gilbert Cedillo. I think that including people like him really add integrity and credibility to your piece (see right). Although I gained some valuable insights from your post, I would have really liked to have read some of your thoughts and feelings towards the rejection of DREAM Act once again by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. It would have been very beneficial to me as the reader to get your insight and views to determine where you stand on this matter. I also think that by adding some links to the quotes you mention would give your writing a stronger sense of influence. I understand that undocumented students do not want to have their picture taken or their actual name cited in anything due to their status here in the Untied States, but I think it is very important to sometimes put a face to a citation so the reader gets a feel of who you are talking about when you mention undocumented students. I have been reading many blogs, articles, and pieces that reference illegal immigrants and education, and time and time again, everyone always seems to think that every illegal immigrant is of Latin American descent. I think it would be very beneficial for informing the casual reader that not just Hispanics are suffering from the rejection of the DREAM Act. Overall, I think you guys have a great thing going at the Daily Californian. Keep up the good work; I am really looking forward to reading your next post.