The dream of being a professional
By Sabina Covo
From the blog SabinaCovo.com
MIAMI – While talk continues on a very likely immigration reform this year, thousands of undocumented children in the United States graduate from high school but cannot go on to the university.
They cannot for two reasons: first, because their parents are not legal residents of the state where they live and do not qualify for the resident discounts at the public universities.
Second, because the children themselves don’t qualify for the discount when they do not live with their parents.
Considering that these children were able to study in public elementary and high schools, this policy is a bit ridiculous, especially if, in most cases, their parents paid taxes.
I am sure that one of the factors that would improve the economy of any state would be to allow those children to go to college. The more trained professionals we have, the more companies are created and the faster the economy grows. That’s the dream of every country.
Conditions vary according to the state, but one of the states with the greatest number of such situations is Florida, because of the huge numbers of immigrants the state has welcomed.
Typical is the case of a young man brought by his parents to the U.S. as a baby who could neither read nor write. The only country these children know is the United States. They speak English fluently, know American history, were raised here. Are people identified by their birthplace or the place where they were raised?
It is sad that such children are considered to be less American because of the actions of their parents, who, in most cases, only wanted a better life – precisely for their children.
In the United States, tuition at a public university ranges from $1,500 to $3,500 per semester, if a state resident gets the in-state discount. Otherwise, he pays $7,000 and up per semester, in what is called out-of-state tuition. Usually, these tuitions are paid by affluent foreign youngsters who come to the U.S. to study.
One of the measures implemented by President Barack Obama allows the so-called Dreamers who meet the requirements and have the prescribed age and time of study to work and study in this country.
State Rep. José Javier Rodríguez (D-Miami) tried this week to introduce in the Florida House of Representatives a modest amendment that would allow universities to offer – and pay for – in-state tuition for Dreamers who obtained their schooling in Florida.
That’s a program that, in my opinion, wouldn’t have offended anyone. Rather, it would have solved many problems. Don’t we want more professionals?
The bad news is that the amendment wasn’t even debated in Tallahassee. The leader of the House majority did not authorize a discussion. Representative Rodríguez (a freshman in the state Legislature) told me, in a voice that clearly reflected his disappointment, that he will not be able to resubmit the amendment this year.
Let us hope that immigration reform will be a reality next year. It is sad when something crushes the dreams of a young person who wants to excel and succeed – especially in the country where he or she was raised.
Sabina Covo is a journalist and TV and radio commentator.
