Political Quotes

“this past Spring thousands of students across our Nation donned their caps and gowns and received their high school diplomas as their proud parents and family members looked on. This is an important milestone in the lives of both the graduates and their parents. However, while many of these graduates will be looking forward to college, tens of thousands of these students will never get to attend college and realize their dreams. Why? Because these children are undocumented. Most of these children were brought to the United States at a very young age by their parents and did not have the ability to make an independent decision about where they would live. They had no choice in matter. Thus, they grew up here. They went to school here. And like other children, they too had thoughts of realizing the American dream. These dreams are quickly dashed when these students realize that, unlike their classmates, college is not on their horizon because of their immigration status. Although Congress and the United States Supreme Court rightfully require State and local education agencies to permit undocumented children to attend elementary and secondary school, there are very few mechanisms under current law for these children to legalize their immigration status or go on to college once they have completed their high school education. They are effectively denied the opportunity to go to college and are constantly under the threat of deportation.”