Dream Act proposed

Maryland Senators Victor Ramirez and Richard S. Madeleno introduced a bill last month dubbed the "Maryland Dream Act" that would grant undocumented Maryland college students the right to in-state tuition. At the same time, Judicial Watch, a government watchdog group, filed a lawsuit against Montgomery College accusing the community college of granting in-county tuition rates to students graduating from Montgomery County high schools regardless of their immigration status or residence.

According to Adam Fogel, chief of staff for Senator Madaleno, the debate is a matter of fairness. Maryland Dream Act supporters argue that the state should not hinder young illegal students who did not choose to come to this nation from going to college. "We don't think that people have to pay for their parents' decisions," he said.

Fogel also said that the unavailability of in-state tuition hinders many undocumented students from continuing their education and that it is in Maryland's best interest that each individual has a solid education. "As a state, we want to encourage [undocumented students] to get a good education and become a productive member of our society," he said.

According to Blair ESOL Parent/Community Coordinator Diana Sayago, paying for college is a common problem among the undocumented students at Blair. "I know several students who have not gone to college because they could not get financial aid," she said. "They went to work instead of going to school, and some of them were prominent students."

Opponents, including Republican Minority Leader Anthony O'Donnell of the Maryland House of Delegates, argue that it is irresponsible to subsidize taxpayer money to those who are here illegally. The state would have to pay an additional $14,000 to $16,000 for every illegal immigrant that attends the University of Maryland. "We don't give this opportunity to every American," O'Donnell said. "Why should we provide it to illegal citizens?"

According to a press statement by Judicial Watch, Montgomery College failed to collect $5,870,852 in tuition because of its current policy. The additional money needed to fund discounts for undocumented and non-county residents comes from taxpayer dollars, the statement said. "Montgomery College's funneling of tax dollars to tuition benefits for illegal aliens is against the law," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton in the statement.

Lozano, who is leading a youth campaign in support of the Marland Dream Act, said that it is not the college's job to track the immigration status of its applicants. "The institution of public education is preparing the future generations," she said. "It's not homeland security; it's not immigration customs enforcement."

The bill contains specific requirements that an undocumented student must fulfill in order to be eligible for in-state tuition, Fogel said. A student must have been enrolled in a Maryland high school for at least two years, apply to become a permanent resident and show proof that the student or the student's parents have paid income tax the previous year.

Lozano believes the lawsuit is a political strategy aimed at repressing the strong push for the educational rights of undocumented students. "It's coming at a time where a lot of support for the Maryland Dream [Act] is gaining momentum," she said.

O'Donnell said that the bill would encourage illegal people to move to Maryland to take advantage of the price on education and put Maryland in a greater financial burden. "When other states are cracking down, Maryland is saying, 'Well if you want to have cheaper education, come here,'" he said. On the contrary, Lozano said that other states that have implemented this measure, such as Texas, have not seen a dramatic rise in their immigrant population.

This past December, Congress defeated the federal DREAM Act that would have provided illegal students a pathway to citizenship upon graduating high school and seeking higher education. Because the DREAM act did not pass, Fogel said that Madeleno and other state Democrats are taking initiative to improve policies affecting undocumented students. Maryland does not have power to grant citizenship but should take steps to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to succeed, he said.

A similar bill was passed by both Maryland chambers in 2003 but failed to become law after former Governor Robert Ehrlich vetoed it. Now that Democrats control the House of Delegates, the Senate and the governorship, the bill has a greater chance of becoming law, Fogel said.

If the bill passes, Maryland will be the 11th state to allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition.