Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Should Colleges Enroll Illegal Immigrants?

This article talked about a girl named Ceylia.  She is a native of Poland.  She has lived as an illegal immigrant in the United States for almost 21 years.  She was valedictorian of her high school class and will be graduating from college with a degree in bioengineering with a 3.84 grade point average.  She will be unable to use her degree due to federal immigration laws.  In 1982 a Supreme Court  decision entitled illegal immigrants to a free education from kindergarten through high school.  After that it is undecided.  Congress has left it up to individual states to handle higher education policies.  Concerns about the slowing economy and illegal immigration has led some states to close the door on higher education for undocumented students.  Supporters say that money should be spent on making college more affordable for United States citizens. 

I don't believe that students like Ceylia should be denied use of her college degree.  Every individual has choices.  A person acts in an effort to achieve a purpose.  Purposeful action involves the choice of purpose and the choice means.  She studied hard to get where she is today.  She would ultimately be paying more taxes and make greater contributions as a professional.  We have people who are United States citizens who do nothing but take advantage of the welfare system.  That is their choice.  These immigrants who are succeeding in making their lives better shouldn't be penalized because their parents came into the country illegally.

http://www.usnews.com/education/articles/2008/08/07/should-colleges-enroll-illegal-immigrants

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