Undocumented students in higher education: various perspectives

The topic of undocumented students in higher education and the attempt to provide in state tuition for these students create an intense debate subject to opposing views within the ideological, political and economic spectrum.

Republican candidates have blatantly opposed undocumented immigration in the U.S. There have been some initiatives at the federal level to include in-state tuition for undocumented students in a comprehensive immigration reform. However, those initiatives have not materialized because so much emotion and fear have colored the debates.

Nevertheless, there has been some success at the state level and since 2001 there are 12 states that allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition: California & Texas in 2001, New York and Utah in 2002, Washington, Oklahoma, Illinois and Kansas in 2003 & 2004, New Mexico and Nebraska in 2005-2006, Wisconsin in 2009, Maryland and Connecticut in 2011 (Wisconsin revoked the law in 2011).

One of the most recent successes for undocumented students has been the passage of the California Dream Act, under which undocumented students admitted in any public college or university are eligible for Cal-Grant assistance.

The experience of undocumented students already attending higher learning institutions varies considerably. However, they all have a common concern: an uncertain future, wondering if anyone will hire them when they graduate.

Let us assume that the majority of undocumented students we allude to are Latino students. Such an assumption will be helpful because we now will be able to look at national data in order to contextualize and elucidate the importance of this population for the United States.

According to the 2010 census, the Latino population accounted for more than half of the nation’s growth in the past decade. Currently there are 50.5 million Latinos living in the U.S., making up 16.3% of the total population. Projections indicate that this percentage will increase by 2050 and will represent 25 % of the total population of the country. Geographically, most Latinos continue to live in nine states Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York and Texas. But neighborhoods of Latinos in other states have been increasing.

As of March 2010, more than 11.2 million undocumented immigrants were reported living in the United States. These numbers inevitably speak of the reality of undocumented immigrants. They contribute to the nation’s economy as workers, taxpayers, and consumers.

In the current economic slowdown, political and economic leaders must consider the aforementioned data to provide the necessary avenues not only to pass legislation creating a path to legalization and permanent resident status for undocumented students, but also to realize that by doing so they will boost the economic development and success of the nation.

Colleges and universities must provide support to all college students regardless of their students’ immigration status. We must strive to promote inclusion for all students in our communities and our campuses. We must also strive to build inclusive campus climate. And we must advocate for underrepresented and marginalized students.

A healthy society’s obligation is to afford opportunities for all to attain the highest degree of education relevant to their interests and needs. Building a highly educated workforce is essential for the long-term sustainable development of the nation. Undocumented students deserve equal opportunities to access the institutions of higher education, and thus contribute to the socioeconomic development of our communities, and our society.