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Ice on Immigration: College and the
Dream Act
By L. Patricia Ice, Featured
Columnist
Question: I am 17 years old
and I recently graduated from high school as the top student in my
class. I came to the United States with my parents when I was 6 years
old and I do not have legal immigration status. I would like to attend
college to become a registered nurse practitioner, but I have no social
security number and I am undocumented. Is there anything I can do to
get into college?
Answer: Please
ask a trusted adult to help you find out what the laws regarding
students and social security numbers are in your state. For example, at
some state supported and private institutions of higher learning, a
social security number is not required for enrollment. Also, some
states have laws saying that if you attended school in the state for a
certain period of time that you are considered a resident of the state
and may be able eligible for in-state tuition.
Additionally, please encourage your United States citizen friends and
others to support the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien
Minors (DREAM) Act of 2007 (Senate Bill 774/House Resolution 1275). The
DREAM Act would allow certain immigrant students who meet the
legislation's eligibility requirements to adjust their status to
conditional permanent resident for a period of six years. To be
eligible for the full benefit the student would have to have 1) entered
the United States before the age of 16; 2) been physically present in
the United States for a continuous period of at least five years prior
to the enactment of the law; 3) been admitted to a United States
institution of higher education or earned a high school diploma or
general education development (GED) certificate; and 4) been a person of
good moral character since the time of application.
To
have the conditional basis of the permanent resident status removed,
students would have to satisfy one of the following requirements within
six years of the grant of conditional status: 1) earn a degree from a
United States institution of higher education or complete at least two
years, in good standing, or a bachelor's or higher degree program; or 2)
serve in the United States Armed Forces for at least two years, and if
discharged, receive an honorable discharge.
Members of the United Congress may vote very soon on whether to add the
DREAM Act of 2007 as an amendment to other proposed legislation.
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