Undocumented Children Should Attend College
opinion Essay
2230 words
As Americans, we believe that our great country is a land of milk and honey, of open windows and opportunities, and of rights and privileges. With that being said, we all strive to live the American Dream, with some if not most of us, leaving not only our mother country in the process but our comfort zone. The question to ask is, “Is everyone in this nation, legal or illegal, entitled to these blessings bestowed to us by this country?” After all, according to the Declaration of Independence, we as human beings are granted life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (US 1776). The better question to be presented and dare to be asked is, “Should illegal immigrants without documentation be allowed government funds for their higher education in college?” Without further ado, undocumented children deserve the right to go to college and should be given financial aid regardless of their citizenship standing.
First of all, we live in the days of a modernized and advancing world. That is to say that during this time we call the Information Age, almost every individual wants to attain higher intelligence or better skills to get a better job or land a reputable good career. Yet, many individuals argue the idea that it’s not that important. For instance, George Stephanopoulos writes in his article about US Presidential candidate Rick Santorum, who brings up a valid point that due to already possessing skills and having their own ideal dreams, “there are a lot of people in this country that have no desire or no aspiration to go to college” (“Rick Santorum: ‘A Lot’ of People in US Have No Desire for College”). In defense, college teaches many values that can shape an individual over the course of pursuing a degree,...
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...Greenblatt, Alan. "Immigration Debate." CQ Researcher 1 Feb. 2008: 97-120.
Perez, William. We are Americans : Undocumented Students Pursuing the American Dream. Sterling, VA: Stylus, 2009. Print.
Jost, Kenneth. "Immigration Conflict." CQ Researcher 9 Mar. 2012: 229-52.
Plyler v. Doe, No. 80-1538, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 458 U.S. 1131; 103 S. Ct. 14; 73 L. Ed. 2d 1401; 1982 U.S. LEXIS 4828; 51 U.S.L.W. 3173, September 9, 1982
Rincón, Alejandra. Undocumented Immigrants and Higher Education: SÍ se puede! New York: LFB Scholarly Publishing LLC, 2008. Print.
Stephanopoulos, George. ABC News Politics. 26 February 2012. 22 May 2012 .
"Welcome Trend in College Tuition." New York Times 06 Mar. 2012: 26. Social Sciences Abstracts (H.W. Wilson).
In this essay, the author
- Opines that americans believe that their great country is a land of milk and honey, of open windows and opportunities, and of rights and privileges.
- Argues that college education is essential not because it guarantees success but because knowledge is a driving force in getting ahead in life.
- Argues that america needs to cultivate more leaders because this generation is teeming with plenty.
- Explains that the supreme court's decision in plyler v. doe in 1982 allowed illegal students to attend public schools.
- Opines that the plyler v. doe ruling does not solve the problem of an illegal alien earning a potential high school diploma.
- Analyzes how william perez's book, we are americans: undocumented students pursuing the american dream, lets the voice of illegal college graduate lucia shine through.
- Opines that they were not asked to be brought here. they didn't choose to come here and felt like it was a punishment.
- Explains that while public education is free, college tuition is not. imagine an american family struggling to provide basic necessities for their children, but with an illegal family in hiding.
- Opines that with the development, relief and education for alien minors act passing, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel.
- Explains that the dream act starts with the assumption that immigrants who came to the united states as children have grown up as americans and are innocent of any intentional immigration violations.
- Explains the pros and cons of the dream act, stating that it would empower young people to become better-educated, higher-earning workers and taxpayers.
- Analyzes the flaws associated with the dream act, arguing that the decree would apply to all aliens who came to the us prior to their 16th birthday.
- Agrees with jost that the dream act would be a win-win situation for all. if illegal immigrants were able to find employment, they would help the us economically in the long run.
- Opines that undocumented children should be funded by financial aid to pursue a degree in college.
- Describes the works of sandy baum, stella m. flores, john raymond boatright, and william perez.
- Cites jost, kenneth, and reincón, alejandra. undocumented immigrants and higher education.
Related
- analytical
- explanatory
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- Illegal Immigrants and the Educational Systemanalytical essaySecondary education is a highly debated subject. Many critics of secondary education say that inner-city high schools and students are not receiving the same attention as students from non inner-city high schools. Two of the biggest concerns are the lack of school funding that inner-city high schools are receive and the low success rate in sending inner-city high schools graduates to college. Critics say that while inner-city high schools struggle to pay its teachers and educate its student’s non inner-city high schools don’t have to deal with the lack of school funding. Also students from non inner-city high school are not being given the opportunity to attend colleges once the students graduate. But opponents of these critics blame an entirely different issue; and that is illegal immigrant students over crowding and attending high school at the expense of taxpayers. It cost millions of dollars a year for illegal immigrant students to attend high school and this is the main reason why schools are experiencing budget problems. Teaching illegal immigrant students creates a difficult learning environment and that is why students in inner-city high schools are not moving on to a higher education. This paper will explore the controversy and issues of secondary education; it will expose the hidden truths and prove that illegal immigrants are taking a toll on the education system.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that critics of secondary education say that inner-city high schools and students are not receiving the same attention as students from non-internal schools — they blame illegal immigrant students over crowding and attending high school at the expense of taxpayers.
- Explains that fair published a report on immigration and school overcrowding with the help of david w. stewart, author of immigration and education.
- Argues that illegal immigrants are partly to blame for all the problems that u.s. schools are facing.
- Explains that plyler v. doe found that there is no fundamental right to education, that texas had not proved its argument that admission of illegal alien children to public schools would damage the educational opportunities provided to u.s. citizen children.
1001 wordsRead More - The California DREAM Act of 2011explanatory essayKim, C. (2013). Lost American DREAM of undocumented students: Understanding the DREAM (development, relief, and education for alien minors) act. Children & Schools, 35(1), 55-58. doi:10.1093/cs/cds041
In this essay, the author
- Explains that thousands of undocumented students graduate from high school with uncertainty about a post-secondary education. the paper will focus on the california dream act of 2011.
- Explains that domonell, k. (2011). restoring dreams for immigrant students. university business, 23-23.
- Describes kim, c., "lost american dream of undocumented students: understanding the dream act." children & schools, 35(1), 55-58.
- Explains that perez, r., jones, b. (2007), the ab 540 student and legal history.
- Explains that the supreme court case plyler v. doe of 1982 was a landmark case which held that states could not deny undocumented students access to public k-12 education.
- Explains that many undocumented students rely on private scholarships and full-time work to pursue a higher education.
- States that the dream act of california is beneficial to undocumented students and is expected to improve and stabilize our economy.
1527 wordsRead More - Summary Of Helen Thorpe's Just Like Usanalytical essayPart Three of the book “Just Like Us” written by Helen Thorpe is comprised of illegal undocumented individuals residing in Denver Colorado. The individuals consist of a group of four Mexican young adults all with the dream of one day attending college and finally obtaining a legal status within the United States. In this portion of the readings, Yadira, Marisela, Clara, and Elissa are entering their senior year at their University and have defined the odds of successfully completing college while maintaining an illegal status. Helen Thorpe clearly demonstrates a passion in tracking individuals that are determined to become legal citizens within society; however, lack the proper advocacy and documentation to do so. Part Three of the book envelops the complexity of maintaining a legal status among society members through the lives of these four influential young ladies striving to achieve higher education in the
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how helen thorpe's "just like us" is comprised of illegal undocumented individuals residing in denver, colorado, who dream of attending college and obtaining a legal status within the united states.
- Explains that alma and her husband tomas are corporate to the illegal status yadira has inherited.
- Analyzes how the ambivalence of pursuing higher education is always challenging individuals' decisions due to outside influencing factors. yadira's boyfriend of the moment, juan, explains his rationale for not attending traditional college.
- Explains that due to the diligent and persistent work ethic these young ladies collectively displayed, they became high ranked members of the denver university student body.
- Analyzes how yadira and marisela face consistent adversity regarding their illegal immigrant status. the tangible experiences they faced inspired them to coordinate and establish scholarships for undocumented individuals.
- Compares clara's accomplishments to marisela, who waited to get pregnant after her undergraduate degree despite her adventurous lifestyle.
- Explains that cultural capital is the sum total of one’s knowledge of established and exalted cultural activities and practices. hispanics are intrinsically motivated to expand their mental capacities to avoid future hardships.
- Opines that s of race in american illustrate a valuable distinction between social capital and cultural capital.
1319 wordsRead More - Hispanic Wave to United Statesanalytical essayThe lack of support from home and school make it difficult for a student to find confidence within him or herself. Apart from the difficulty of identifying themselves as Hispanic or American comes the burden of not being told that they have to potential to achieve anything they can. This group has been wrongly stereotyped as lazy young male and females, when in reality the circumstances they were born in and grew up in left little to no choice on whether they wanted to live a life differently fro those of their parents.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the american dream has attracted a huge wave of hispanic immigrants to the united states.
- Explains that the majority of hispanic students come from a family where parents received little to no education. cultures revolve on the importance of hard work.
- Analyzes how the lack of english has stopped parents from being academically involved with their children. hispanics are quick to become conformists in a country where they cannot understand the words at the grocery store.
- Opines that the lack of understanding discourages hispanic students from continuing in their studies and makes it easy for them to steer away from school.
- Analyzes how hispanic students see themselves at a disadvantage as opposed to children of other races because of lack of support and knowledge in part from the student to realize their own capabilities.
- Argues that schools are doing little to encourage hispanic students to take part in programs that will encourage their interest in higher education.
- Argues that the lack of support from home and school makes it difficult for a student to find confidence within themselves.
836 wordsRead More - Illegal Immigration: Granting Amnestyopinion essayStudents who are unable to become a U.S. Citizen should not have difficulty, obtaining a quality education. States such as Georgia and Colorado ban in state tuition to illegal residents forcing them to pay out of state cost of tuition for the particular college (Finaid). Thomas Rudin, senior vice president for the College Board, stated that, "We absolutely believe it's important for opening up economic opportunities.” Federal legislation known as the Dream Act would allow illegal immigrants who entered the United States, when they were fifteen or younger and have been a resident for five or more years, to have conditional legal status when they graduate from high school (“College Board”). Even though this bill would help these stu...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that tony crossed the mexican border with his family when he was eight years old because of his status as an illegal immigrant. his family has to live without their father because his father came earlier to earn money for their crossing.
- Opines that educating an illegal immigrant is more important than the money spent on students who don't want an education.
- Opines that a green card, an identification document issued by the united states, gives an immigrant the ability to work in the us.
- Argues that undocumented immigrants should have the same opportunities as other men and women, but are denied basic citizenship rights. illegal immigrants have little to no effect on the jobs in the us.
- Argues that immigrants who enter illegally should not be rewarded and face consequences for their actions. the new arizona immigration law would allow law enforcement officers to stop suspected individuals at their discretion.
- Explains that even though english is the most common language internationally, states such as new jersey have a different aspect of languages.
- Analyzes how president obama thinks that the families of illegal immigrants should not be broken apart because they were following the rules.
- Opines that immigration in the united states is a problem since the 1986 amnesty, but to remove them from our culture and society would be impossible.
- Opines that providing amnesty to illegal immigrants is the best option for the united states.
- Cites immigration procon.org - what are the solutions to illegalimmigration in america.
- States that the college board wants more help for illegal immigrants.
- Explains the american resistance foundation, a coalition ofimmigration crime fighters opposing illegal and undocumented immigration, founded by d.a. king.
- Explains that the effect of immigration on jobs, wages is difficult for economists to naildown.
- Explains that immigrationprof blog: great quotes about immigrants.
- Narrates johnson, elias, markon, jerry, and michael d. shear. "justice department sues arizona over immigration."
- States sabatino, bob, "enforcement of immigration laws is not racism." cape coral daily breeze.
- Cites thornburgh, nathan, and tony. "the stories of u.s. immigrants in their own words."
1550 wordsRead More - Statement Of Purpose: Empowering The Latino Communityexplanatory essayGrowing up in a Hispanic community, I realized that many of my friends believed college was not for them. It was not until my first year at Oregon State University when I joined Adelante, a one-term program aimed at empowering the Latino community, that I was able to fully grasp the significance of this belief. Recognizing this issue, I understood that I had a responsibility to act and encourage other families, in particular Hispanic families, to think about postsecondary education. I became the co-president of Adelante and together we grew it into an official Student Sponsored Organization. Adelante continues to provide the same program I went through, but now along with another organization named Juntos, brings awareness and information on
In this essay, the author
- Describes how they became the co-president of adelante, a one-term program aimed at empowering the latino community.
249 wordsRead More - Education for Undocumented Studentsopinion essayUndocumented immigrants often elicit the images of Mexican immigrants illegally crossing the border by car or by foot. Many Americans may also think of the soccer field immigrants at the border of Tijuana and San Diego, or the immigrants running away from the drug lords. While majority of undocumented immigrants in California are from Mexico, there are a number of other countries that have immigrants finding refuge in America that reside in all states. Undocumented immigrants are a wide group that may encompass the following people groups: asylum-seeking refugees, migrants from war torn countries that are not under a refugee status, and those that arrive at our borders hoping for a better life in America than in their home country. While many do come from Central America, the following table illustrates that undocumented immigrants come from many countries around the world.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the family education rights and privacy act (ferpa) protects the records of students in the school district from outside agencies.
- Explains that the development, relief, and education for alien minors (dream act) has been proposed as a federal act and an act within the state of california.
- Explains arizona's anti-immigrant law, which allows police officers to ask for documentation under suspicion and further deport any unauthorized alien back to their home country.
- States that california assembly bill 540 grants undocumented qualified high school graduates the opportunity to receive a higher education.
- Argues that school structures are necessary for the success of undocumented children, and political policies determine their success or failure.
- Explains that ab 540 dream act. affirmative action and diversity page.
- Explains gonzalez, r.g., understanding the effects of school.
- Explains lee, y., to dream or not to dream: a cost-benefit analysis of the development, relief, and
- Opines that morse, s.c., ludovina, f.s. and eric clearinghouse on rural education and small schools, c.
- Cites united states v. state of arizona, no. 10-01413 (d. ariz.
- Explains that undocumented immigrants are a wide group that may include asylum-seeking refugees, migrants from war-torn countries, and those that arrive at our borders hoping for better life in america.
- States that the supreme court ruled that states cannot deny undocumented children the right to public education because it would violate their 14th amendment rights.
- Opines that the ruling has been upheld in several court cases but only covers children in the k-12 system, and does not apply to public university education.
- Analyzes how undocumented students in georgia have voiced their outrage as the state considers adopting two anti-immigrant bills, hb 87 and sb 40.
- Opines that counselors should debunk myths about undocumented immigrants and give them a chance to succeed in life.
1904 wordsRead More - People Should Pay For Collegeanalytical essayAlthough free college may close the gap between people going to college and people not going to college, it will lead to bigger problems in the long run. People who are graduating high school that are ready to go to college, and live on their own should pay for college by themselves. Paying for college out of your own pocket rather than have the money for college handed to you will teach people how to grow up, help with skills that they will need during their later years of adulthood, and by paying for college on their own it might help them feel more grateful towards their accomplishments.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that free college may close the gap between people going to college and people not attending college, but it will lead to bigger problems in the long run. people who are graduating high school should pay for college by themselves.
108 wordsRead More - Should College Be Freeanalytical essayShould College be free in the U.S.? Just read this again “free college”, In some instances college tuition is already free, by making college free it could raise some red flags for the U.S. economy. College is all about choice, you can go and further your education or go straight to the workforce, the Army, or even to a Trade School. But in some cases college is a big part of the American Dream, most families consider College to be a privilege, and to have their children live a better life. In my opinion college should not be free due to fact that by making it free it would cause major stress in the american economy and our people. There are some who believe that by making college free it would interest more of the high school graduates to continue with furthering their education.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that college should not be free in the u.s.
- Argues that free college should be a right to students because they worked hard and surpassed their peers who did not want to continue in higher education. under the pro-welfare benefit system tuition subsidies and living fees would just be like the benefits for the poor, elderly, and disabled.
- Argues that making college free for everyone would mean giving more money to richer families than poor families.
- Argues that free college isn't free, it just shifts costs from students to taxpayers, but it does not change the cost of college.
- Opines that college should be free because it helps with lowering student debt, and that every student should get the opportunity to get a college education.
- Opines that making college free for everyone would strain our economy, with rising taxes, and colleges would have more students coming in than money.
956 wordsRead More - College: A Great Payoff Or A Great Expense?opinion essayWhen it comes to the topic of attaining a college degree, most will readily agree that it is essential to securing a successful career post-graduation. Whereas some are convinced that a college degree does not guarantee entry into a career in one’s field of study nor does it determine success in one’s career. Others maintain that a higher education is in fact the way to job security and financial success. What comes into question is whether the investment in a college education is truly worth it or not in order to accomplish a student’s goals of success. I think it could be said for most prospective college students that the reason for going to college is to gain the credentials required for most jobs today. What many of those potential students may not realize is the substantial percentage of graduates who do not acquire a
In this essay, the author
- Opines that a college degree is essential to securing successful career post-graduation, while others believe that it is the way to job security and financial success.
- Analyzes how catherine rampell's essay, "college graduates fare well, even through recession," provides data that detail why a college education is worth investing in.
- Explains that the extreme college loan debt that most graduates will be subject to is inevitable.
- Opines that the high rates of first-year college dropouts create a cycle of indebted, disheartened, low-earning individuals with no guarantee of success.
972 wordsRead More