Undocumented Students Fight for Education Equality in NJ

by Don Tagala, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

Posted at 05/18/2015 10:12 AM | Updated as of 05/18/2015 10:19 AM

NEWARK, NJ – Just hours before their graduation at the Prudential Center in Newark, undocumented students condemned New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s veto on state financial aid for the undocumented.

“Reach for the Stars,” says a sign to graduating students from the Essex County College.

Unfortunately, not all of them can.

Twenty of this year’s graduates are undocumented, but only two of these Dreamers are able to continue their education because of lack of state financial aid.

“We are asking the state and Gov. Christie to pass a law that would allow undocumented students to get access to state financial aid because we desperately need it,” said undocumented graduate Lio Adorno.

Deyanira Aldana said, “It would be able to allow me to afford to go to a four-year university, which unfortunately because of the veto right now I won’t be able to do so.”

A recent study by the New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) shows that undocumented families pump in about $500 million in state and local taxes each year.

Adorno said, “A lot of the opposition says, we are asking for free money, but what we’re saying is that for years we’ve been paying taxes here in New Jersey. We want some of that money back to go to our education.”

A Filipino parent of a new graduate agrees.

Estrella Paradero of Bloomdfield, NJ said, “It should be approved, because we pay taxes and the children are very intelligent.”

“This is just part of a bigger fight nationwide for greater access to education,” said Anakbayan NJ’s Bea Sabino.

Undocumented students say they will not stop fighting for education equality until everyone recognizes that education is a right and not privilege.

(Source: ABS-CBNnews.com)

Back to top button

Adblock Detected

Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker