Huckabee proposes plan for illegal aliens
Yvette Scorse, Assistant News Editor
Issue date: 2/2/05 Section: News
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Gov. Mike Huckabee has not yet filed a bill after his proposal a few weeks ago to offer state-funded college financial aid to illegal aliens who graduate from high school in Arkansas.
"The governor did not call for any direct action," said junior Alejandro Aviles, a Hispanic activist and president of the League of United Latin American Citizens at the UA.
If Huckabee's proposal becomes a bill and is passed in the state legislature, it will allow undocumented students to become state citizens and pay in-state tuition.
"[Huckabee] believes real strongly that children shouldn't be punished for things they don't have control over," said Jim Harris, a spokesman for Huckabee. If a student qualifies to go to college or to receive a scholarship, he or she should have the opportunity to go, he said.
Many high school students in Northwest Arkansas are undocumented, Aviles said, and "it's not their fault. Without equal opportunities to higher education," he said, "how do we educate people in our community?"
The Dream Act was co-sponsored by Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., in 2003 and passed with bi-partisan support in the Senate but was denied by the Bush administration. The act would have allowed undocumented immigrant students to qualify for federal and state financial aid for college.
The Dream Act is a "responsible way to address the tragedy of young people who grow up in the United States, graduate high schools but are denied the opportunity to advance their education by current immigration law," Lincoln said in a statement.
Like Huckabee's proposal, Lincoln said the Dream Act would benefit only the students who excel academically.
Lincoln said the Dream Act would benefit "only those young people who have earned the privilege to remain in the U.S. by excelling academically."
"Those children who graduate from Arkansas high schools and have the grades and ACT scores to get a scholarship will get better jobs and a better life, which is the American dream," Harris said.
"The governor did not call for any direct action," said junior Alejandro Aviles, a Hispanic activist and president of the League of United Latin American Citizens at the UA.
If Huckabee's proposal becomes a bill and is passed in the state legislature, it will allow undocumented students to become state citizens and pay in-state tuition.
"[Huckabee] believes real strongly that children shouldn't be punished for things they don't have control over," said Jim Harris, a spokesman for Huckabee. If a student qualifies to go to college or to receive a scholarship, he or she should have the opportunity to go, he said.
Many high school students in Northwest Arkansas are undocumented, Aviles said, and "it's not their fault. Without equal opportunities to higher education," he said, "how do we educate people in our community?"
The Dream Act was co-sponsored by Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., in 2003 and passed with bi-partisan support in the Senate but was denied by the Bush administration. The act would have allowed undocumented immigrant students to qualify for federal and state financial aid for college.
The Dream Act is a "responsible way to address the tragedy of young people who grow up in the United States, graduate high schools but are denied the opportunity to advance their education by current immigration law," Lincoln said in a statement.
Like Huckabee's proposal, Lincoln said the Dream Act would benefit only the students who excel academically.
Lincoln said the Dream Act would benefit "only those young people who have earned the privilege to remain in the U.S. by excelling academically."
"Those children who graduate from Arkansas high schools and have the grades and ACT scores to get a scholarship will get better jobs and a better life, which is the American dream," Harris said.
