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UID:Indybay-18638426
SEQUENCE:18702941
CREATED:20100222T213400Z
DESCRIPTION:Every year, 65,000 undocumented students graduate from U.S. high schools, 
 but these students face serious barriers to higher education. First, they 
 are not eligible to receive any state or federal financial aid; this 
 includes work-study and student loans. Basically, these students and their 
 families have to pay dollar-for-dollar what it costs to attend an 
 institution of higher learning. So what, you say?\n\nUndocumented students 
 and their families DO PAY TAXES! They pay sales tax on everything they buy, 
 they pay property tax on anything they own, and they pay income tax. 
 Ironically, the IRS does hand out what is called an "ITIN" number to enable 
 folks to pay income taxes even if they are not eligible for work in the 
 U.S.\n\nThe second issue is what happens after graduation. Those 
 exceptional students who do make it through school and graduate with a 
 degree, can not put their degree to use or obtain a job if they have no 
 legal status. Worst of all, there is oftentimes no legal pathway for them 
 to even obtain legal status.\n\nThe Federal D.R.E.A.M. Act would grant 
 qualified undocumented students a pathway to legalization. These students 
 would have to meet the following criteria:\n1) Go to a U.S. high school for 
 at least 3 years and graduate or obtain equivalent GED\n2) Have entered the 
 country before the age of 16 and live here consecutively for the past 5 
 years\n3) Demonstrate they have "good moral character" (i.e. no criminal 
 record)\n4) Enroll in an institute of higher learning or enlist in the 
 armed services\n\nIf the student meets this criteria, they are granted six 
 years temporary legal status. This means they do not have to worry about 
 getting deported, they will have access (possibly) to work-study and 
 student loans, and they can apply after the six year temporary period for 
 legal permanent residency.\n\nBy no means is this a "quick fix" and it 
 certainly doesn't fix our broken immigration system, but it does allow 
 undocumented students equal access to pursue higher education and be able 
 to incorporate into our society.\n\nThis week, students at UC Santa Cruz 
 have organized the following events:\n\nTEACH IN: UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT 
 STRUGGLES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION\nWednesday, 2/24 from 7-9pm, Oakes Rm. 
 105\n\nPAN DULCE FRIDAY FILM: Short Films on AB540 and Undocumented Student 
 Stories\nFriday, 2/26 from 12-1:30pm, Cervantes/Velasquez Conference 
 Room\nFree pan dulce (sweet bread) and drinks! \n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/02/22/18638426.php
SUMMARY:UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT STRUGGLES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
LOCATION:Oakes Rm. 105\nUC Santa Cruz
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/02/22/18638426.php
DTSTART:20100225T030000Z
DTEND:20100225T050000Z
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