Cerritos College
Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

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Partial approval of DREAM Act creates a possibility for undocumented students

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Nursing major Evelyn Ceja wants nothing more than to see her close friend attend college alongside her, but without legal citizenship, her wish is nothing but a dream.

“[Immigrants] come to this country not to ruin the economy, but to start new and get an education,” Ceja said.

According to Counselor Rocio Casillas, this is the situation for a lot of undocumented students due to the fact that tuition is so high.

“Without some financial support from the government, many students are unable to afford to continue their education,” Casillas said.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed part of the bill for the DREAM (Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors) act on July 25, which will fund undocumented students to continue their education at a college or a university.

Undocumented students will receive privately funded scholarships to attend a school of their choice, under the DREAM act law.

Business major Juan Lopez believes that undocumented students should received aid, but only if they are willing to work for it by studying hard and proving that they deserve it.

Nursing major Brenda Ovando states that, “It is fair for them (undocumented students) to receive help, because everybody deserves to get help from the government.”

Photography major Manuel Bravo agrees that the DREAM act should be passed since it will help the students that really want to continue their education get the resources required to earn a degree.

Biology major Yana Tingabngab, expresses that immigrants come from a country where they don’t have all the suitable recourses to provide their youth with the needed tools to continue on to be productive leaders of society.

Students who are eligible to obtain these benefits if passed, must have entered the United States before the age of 16, must have completed high school or obtain a GED and must have good moral character.

Not everyone on campus agrees that the law should pass. Automotive major Justin Levelagston disagree with the law because he states that California is in debt and cannot afford it.

“With all the college budget cuts, it’s hard for students to get classes, and a whole list of students cannot graduate,” Levelagston said.

Art major Steve Gibbons also believes that the law would not be fair to California residents. “Right now we’re in debt crisis,“ Gibbons said, ”I think it would make it (the crisis) worse because we have problems of our own and we don’t have time to figure out other peoples’ problems.”

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Partial approval of DREAM Act creates a possibility for undocumented students