Issue date: 11/28/07 Section: Opinion

Opinion Columnist: Wes Kimbell

Media Credit: Cindy Osborn [Click to enlarge]

Immigration and undocumented immigrants are hotly debated issues in the United States today. While there are fights about immigration policy, it seems nobody wins. No true immigration reform has passed on the federal level for years. Because of the unsuccessful comprehensive immigration reform, activists have resorted to pushing piecemeal legislation, hoping it will squeeze through the House, Senate and the president's veto pen.

The Dream Act is one of these piece-meal acts that hopes to change a portion of immigration policy a little bit at a time. A fellow Aggie has told me her story and how the immigration debate is directly affecting her life. She hopes other Aggies will join her in supporting the Dream Act. This is her story.

When Ana was 10, she and her family came to the U.S. to reunite with her father. When she started school, she became determined to learn the English language and adapt to her new culture. In middle school, she was involved with extracurricular activities and excelled in school.

Once in high school, she continued her involvement and was one of the top students in her class. She focused her time on helping her community in activities, such as being a mentor to elementary children through Big Brothers Big Sisters. She was also a member of the National Honors Society and the captain of the varsity soccer. She ended her high school experience by graduating as the salutatorian of her class with a perfect GPA.

Now, a student at Texas A&M, she continues to be involved by completing more than 90 hours of community service a semester among other activities.

Ana is proud to be close to graduating and because she has the opportunity to apply to graduate school to work on her doctorate in public administration.

However, Ana is in a bind.

She finds her college experience restricted. She wishes to study abroad but cannot do so. She is looking for an internship but she cannot find one. She wishes to travel out of state to attend conferences for her major, but she cannot. She wishes that she could drive, but she does not have a license and is not allowed to have one. Ana is a highly qualified, active community member but she cannot obtain work after graduation. Ana is an undocumented immigrant.

But, fortunately for Ana, Texas House Bill 1403 at least allows her to receive in-state tuition and apply for scholarships. Other states do not. But, Ana and thousands of others students will basically be forced to leave their homes when they finish their studies because they are not allowed to work in the U.S. without residency, even though they have spent most of their lives here.

These are highly qualified graduates that would increase the ingenuity in our country. The proponents of the act make the argument that these students are potentially to face the drain in our social service budgets, making it an asset in terms of payments of taxes and the attraction to a state of high wage employers seeking well-educated workers. These are hard working, valuable members of our community.

This is where the Dream Act comes in. The Dream Act is proposed federal legislation that hopes to change this. It's relatively simple. After six years, if the student has obtained a bachelor's degree or higher or served two years in the Armed Forces and maintained good moral character, they would qualify for permanent residency. This would allow the opportunity for employment.

But Ana says we don't need to fear amnesty. The act creates zero incentives for an increase in undocumented workers crossing the border. There is a five year residency requirement prior to the enactment and you must show proof of this requirement for fulfillment. The Act allows permanent residency only to those that qualify.

Students at Texas A&M, like Ana, are working hard to promote the Act. B.E.S.O., Destino, Lambda Theta Phi, Chi Upsilon Sigma, Phi Iota Alpha and MAES are A&M organizations fighting for passage of the Dream Act.

- Wes Kimbell is a senior international studies major.

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