Legislation that would have improved educational opportunities for immigrant students has been withdrawn at the state Capitol, but advocates say they are not giving up and plan a demonstration Sunday in support of the DREAM Act.
The legislation was included in the Higher Education Omnibus funding bill, but was withdrawn earlier this week when Gov. Tim Pawlenty threatened a veto. In doing so, he "shattered the dreams of thousands of Minnesota immigrant students," said Alison Quito Ziegler, program manager for the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network.
Groups supporting the legislation have invited Pawlenty to meet with them Sunday at Sagrado Corazon de Jesus church in Minneapolis. If he declines, as they expect, they plan a demonstration on the state Capitol steps at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Sponsors of the demonstration are a variety of religious, immigrant and community groups, including AFFIRM, Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network (formerly the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride), ISAIAH, Centro Campesino, Resource Center of the Americas, Centro de Derechos Laborales and Jewish Community Action.
The DREAM Act would enable young people who are not citizens but have lived and attended school in Minnesota to pay resident tuition at all higher education institutions in Minnesota. Currently, many cannot afford to go to college because of high, out-of-state tuition.
To quality for resident tuition, students would have to have at least two years of attendance at a Minnesota high school; graduation from a state high school or attainment within the state of an equivalent; registration or enrollment at a public higher education institution and, in the case of a student without lawful immigration status, the filing of an affidavit indicating they have filed an application to legalize their citizenship or will at the earliest opportunity they are eligible to do so.
The DREAM Act is a key component of immigration reform efforts at both the state and federal level. The state legislation has bipartisan support. It was sponsored by Northfield Republican Ray Cox in the House and St. Paul DFLer Sandy Pappas in the Senate.
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Immigrant students say tuition legislation would fulfill a dream
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Legislation that would have improved educational opportunities for immigrant students has been withdrawn at the state Capitol, but advocates say they are not giving up and plan a demonstration Sunday in support of the DREAM Act.
The legislation was included in the Higher Education Omnibus funding bill, but was withdrawn earlier this week when Gov. Tim Pawlenty threatened a veto. In doing so, he “shattered the dreams of thousands of Minnesota immigrant students,” said Alison Quito Ziegler, program manager for the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network.
Groups supporting the legislation have invited Pawlenty to meet with them Sunday at Sagrado Corazon de Jesus church in Minneapolis. If he declines, as they expect, they plan a demonstration on the state Capitol steps at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Sponsors of the demonstration are a variety of religious, immigrant and community groups, including AFFIRM, Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network (formerly the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride), ISAIAH, Centro Campesino, Resource Center of the Americas, Centro de Derechos Laborales and Jewish Community Action.
The DREAM Act would enable young people who are not citizens but have lived and attended school in Minnesota to pay resident tuition at all higher education institutions in Minnesota. Currently, many cannot afford to go to college because of high, out-of-state tuition.
To quality for resident tuition, students would have to have at least two years of attendance at a Minnesota high school; graduation from a state high school or attainment within the state of an equivalent; registration or enrollment at a public higher education institution and, in the case of a student without lawful immigration status, the filing of an affidavit indicating they have filed an application to legalize their citizenship or will at the earliest opportunity they are eligible to do so.
The DREAM Act is a key component of immigration reform efforts at both the state and federal level. The state legislation has bipartisan support. It was sponsored by Northfield Republican Ray Cox in the House and St. Paul DFLer Sandy Pappas in the Senate.
Related article
Immigrant students say tuition legislation would fulfill a dream