Senior with 4.09 GPA accepted at UC Berkeley, oh wait illegal immigrant

[wagon]

stumbled up this on fark and wanna see what you guys think

title fail, the full title is "A high school senior carries a 4.09 grade-point average and has been accepted to UC Berkeley. It's a shame she's an illegal immigrant "

Girl who came to U.S. illegally can't get loans

FONTANA - Gladys Castro has all the numbers needed to get into UC Berkeley - except one.

Although the 17-year-old Kaiser High School senior carries a 4.09 grade-point average and has been accepted to the university, she cannot apply for government loans because she's an illegal immigrant and doesn't have a Social Security number.

"I don't know how I'm going to pay for school," she said. "All I want is a chance."

Castro said less than a year ago, one Kaiser High administrator refused to sign a petition supporting federal college aid for illegal immigrants, supposedly saying that they don't deserve to go to American universities.

"I just started crying," Castro said.

Some say Castro has spent her
Gladys Castro, 17, of Fontana, wipes tears as she talks earlier this month about her struggle to pursue a higher education after she graduates from high school in Fontana. "I don t know how I m going to pay for school," she said. "All I want is a chance." (Thomas R. Cordova/Staff Photographer)
chance on a high school diploma.

"California has already dumped $100,000 in free education (on her)," said Robert Rector, a senior research fellow at the Washington, D.C.-based Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. "If you want to be tough about it, you can ask for it to be repaid."

Castro smiles wide and talks fast when asked about her plans to major in political science at the campus she has visited three times.

But the reality of having to pay more than $30,000 in fees per academic year often quenches her enthusiasm to the point of tears, leaving her to ponder a future without a college degree.

When she was 8 years old, her family fled the crime and violence of their hometown in Jalisco, Mexico.

Two of her relatives were kidnapped and murdered, and when the family stopped at her uncle's house in Tijuana before illegally entering the United States, he warned them not to go near the windows because of the frequent shootings in the neighborhood.

Castro cannot forget the stories told by childhood friends in Mexico, who spoke of the dead bodies they would see in cars after a bloody street battle.

"It's not something a child should have to see," she said.

On her first day of school in the U.S., Castro's third-grade class made Native American dreamcatchers, sacred ornaments believed to allow only positive dreams to enter one who is sleeping.

She quickly tested out of an English-learners class.

Her schedule in high school has been laden with advanced placement coursework.

Castro joined the Army Junior ROTC in 2007. She's been a member of the National Honor Society and a president of the Advanced Biology Club.

And, until recently, hardly anyone at the school knew she was undocumented.

An evangelical Christian, Castro would ask the campus Christian club to pray for her situation, the request couched in vague terms so as not to let on about her status.

Her mother works in a barber shop, and her father is a house painter struggling to find employment. A year of Berkeley costs more than what the family makes annually, Castro said.

"I know there is a God, and I know he's my father, and he loves me, and I know he has a great plan for me," she said. "He's opening doors for me that I can't open by myself."

Some undocumented students have already walked through the doors of American colleges.

Sergio Hernandez's family came to the country illegally when he was 2 years old.

Now 23, Hernandez is set to graduate from Cal Poly Pomona with a bachelor's degree in political science. He plans to pursue a master's degree in higher education.

Hernandez
(Thomas R. Cordova/Staff Photographer)
said Castro faces a tough but manageable road.

"I understand how she's feeling, because she feels like her dreams are closed, and she's not empowered," he said.

Hernandez, a former class president at Rosemead High School who has either joined, led or started numerous Latino associations at Cal Poly, said he has been able to pay for his school because of AB540, a law passed in 2001 that allows illegal immigrants who graduate from California high schools to pay in-state tuition at a state college or university.

His father owns a landscaping business and financially assists Hernandez, who also works at the school's Cesar E. Chavez Center for Higher Education.

Hernandez in his first year of school used private scholarships to fund his studies. He said such scholarships are great ways for undocumented students to get the financial aid they seek to attend college.

And he, like Castro, supports the federal Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, also known as the Dream Act, that is working its way through Congress.

The bill would aid about 65,000 illegal immigrants each year who graduate from high school and meet other requirements.

Under the bill, illegal immigrants who entered the U.S. under 16 years of age and have lived here more than five years, graduated from high school and can demonstrate good moral character may apply for conditional legal status.

They would be allowed to stay in the country for six years under such status.

Students can convert their conditional status to permanent residency by graduating from a two-year college, studying at least two years toward a bachelor's degree or serving in the military at least two years.

Students receive green cards and could apply for citizenship, if the conditions of the probationary period are met.

"I've been fighting for the Dream Act ever since it was introduced," Hernandez said.

Castro has worked with Latino activist groups such as the left-wing Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles to gain support for the proposal.

"A lot of people see us as criminals," she said. "I don't see myself as a criminal. How am I a criminal at 8 years old, when I had no control over my life?"

Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, agrees.

"It is wrong to unfairly punish those young people who come to America through no fault of their own," Baca said.

He supports the Dream Act, but said it is limited in that it helps only those who are seeking assistance in higher education or those who enroll in the military.

He has introduced the People Resolved to Obtain an Understanding of Democracy, or Proud Act, which would give "responsible immigrant high school graduates" a realistic pathway to citizenship if they have good grades, show an understanding of U.S. civics and "stayed out of trouble."

"The good news is the comprehensive immigration bill introduced in the House, H.R. 4321, includes provisions of both the Proud Act and the Dream Act," Baca said.

Rector disagreed, saying such bills do nothing more than reward illegal behavior.

"There are probably a billion people in the world that would like to come to (the United States)," Rector said. "We're saying we'll confer this on a few thousand people precisely because they broke our laws."

Rector said the Dream Act encourages future law-breaking because it has no sunset date and gives illegal immigrants that much more incentive to cross the border.

Paying for the education of undocumented children and effectively granting them citizenship so that they in turn will request legal permanent status for their parents essentially transforms the U.S. into a ruinous "global open primary" for lawbreakers who eventually will vote in the country's elections, Rector said.

A child benefitting from a criminal act such as crossing the border illegally is inexcusable, he said.

In fact, he suggested an alternative.

"They need to go back where they came from. That girl would do quite well in Mexico. It's not like consigning her to hell."

Castro said she hears that type of rhetoric all the time, from conservative political pundits to Tea Party activists.

"All I want to do is go to college," she said. "I feel as American as anybody else."

In lighter moments, Castro jokes that she could wash cars to raise money.

In the meantime, she plans to attend Riverside Community College in the summer and fall while she figures out how to pay for Berkeley.

"I don't want to fall behind. As much as you explain it to people, no one understands. It's not an easy journey. Everything I have is in the United States."

[Yuri-G]

stupid fucking weighted grades. I would have had a 4.09 too.

I dunno about this, I'm ambivalent. she kinda broke the law and then cried about it after the fact, but America needs as many young people of her caliber as possible right now. so idk man.

[dejet]

I really do not know. Very Happy I do not pick how this stuff goes down. She should go, but then again I really do not like the idea of paying for hers.

Still its a hard call. shit storm incoming? Who draws the line and so on bla bla bla.

[Egon]

How about kick her back to Mexico, so she can make her own country better, then maybe more Mexicans will stay in Mexico.

[Weiing]

In my spring semester of grad school (which ended a couple weeks ago), one of the groups in my class did the Dream Act as a policy advocacy project. (I'm going for a Master in Social Work degree at USC.) A lot of people are quite ambivalent about this Act passing, but I don't think there is anything wrong with it. It's not like the Act would fling money at them to attend school, nor is it necessarily supporting *undocumented* immigrants... It's mainly to allow these potential college students to be able to pay in-state tuition (not sure if that was mentioned in that long article). It has strict regulations to qualify. It's hard to deny people an opportunity at higher education, especially when they came as children and had no idea what was going on. They may not even have know they were undocumented until they tried applying for college. Would it be right to penalize them? Would it be right to penalize their family? Perhaps, but perhaps not.

People should also keep in mind that this isn't just for Latinos... There are undocumented immigrants from all over the world. Obviously, as Mexico is the closest, people tend to just hastily assume it's only about Latinos.

This documentary called "Papers" may be interesting for some people to watch.

I will admit that this is highly controversial and a slippery slope.

Ultimately, I believe it's about education... which I believe is a right for everyone.

[Headspace]

How about kick her back to Mexico, so she can make her own country better, then maybe more Mexicans will stay in Mexico.

lol

[Jodwahh]

Some fucking heartless bitches up in this thread lol.

[Kyreth]

I'd offer her a trade.

You can get citizenship.

We send your family back to Mexico. If they come back over the border, we send them back to Mexico and you go with them.

Or, you can go back to Mexico with them. Just because you cheated the system all the way into college doesn't mean the system owes you anything.



How do I reach these kids?

[dejet]

In my spring semester of grad school (which ended a couple weeks ago), one of the groups in my class did the Dream Act as a policy advocacy project. (I'm going for a Master in Social Work degree at USC.) A lot of people are quite ambivalent about this Act passing, but I don't think there is anything wrong with it. It's not like the Act would fling money at them to attend school, nor is it necessarily supporting *undocumented* immigrants... It's mainly to allow these potential college students to be able to pay in-state tuition (not sure if that was mentioned in that long article). It has strict regulations to qualify. It's hard to deny people an opportunity at higher education, especially when they came as children and had no idea what was going on. They may not even have know they were undocumented until they tried applying for college. Would it be right to penalize them? Would it be right to penalize their family? Perhaps, but perhaps not.

People should also keep in mind that this isn't just for Latinos... There are undocumented immigrants from all over the world. Obviously, as Mexico is the closest, people tend to just hastily assume it's only about Latinos.

This documentary called "Papers" may be interesting for some people to watch.

I will admit that this is highly controversial and a slippery slope.

Ultimately, I believe it's about education... which I believe is a right for everyone.

I really wish I could side with you, as it does not seem to off the wall. The only thing is that in state is dirt cheap. My college goes from near ~15k a year to ~5k a year(not counting room/board).

What I want to know is with a GPA like that why she cant get help. I only had a 3.45 GPA and I still got help from scholarships. mind you they did not cover my room but for the most part tuition was covered.

[Sanoske]

How exactly did she break the law? As a young child, you expect her to say "No, I won't follow you Mommy and Daddy. I'm going to live in Mexico and blah blah"? Get over yourself.

If she busted her ass enough to get a killer GPA, has the merit and motivation to succeed in college and beyond then by all means she should have the opportunity. The conservative think-tank guy who said "Get back to Mexico, she would do quite well there." made me a bit nauseous.

Also...what Wei said.

[BadKarma]

Keyword here is


ILLEGAL

[Headspace]

Seriously, she's smarter than most fucking kids born here, and probably has better work ethic because she hasn't had it easy.

Most kids in the Florida University system are dumb as fuck and get most of their tuition paid for by the state through various programs, and they never go fucking go to class.

Stupid fucking kids.

[toonces]

for having such good grades, she should know how to make this work. good luck to her... (ps: get online ask for people money you would get it )

[Weiing]

I really wish I could side with you, as it does not seem to off the wall. The only thing is that in state is dirt cheap. My college goes from near ~15k a year to ~5k a year(not counting room/board).

What I want to know is with a GPA like that why she cant get help. I only had a 3.45 GPA and I still got help from scholarships. mind you they did not cover my room but for the most part tuition was covered.

I assume... most scholarships/tuition assistance and such are for citizens/permanent residents of the US? I'm not sure though. Just a guess.

[Pirian]

I say we continue the American brain drain!

[Zoolander]

I don't know. Federal money should not be spent on people that aren't citizens, I mean to me that seems pretty obvious. What the fuck did she think was going to happen?

This is about the flaws in our immigration system and is just another reason why it needs serious reform. Making it easier for illegals to live here is just avoiding the root cause of the problem.

[Kirb]

I am somewhat repulsed by the idea of accusing a girl who was 8 years old when she crossed the border, through no power of her own, of breaking immigration law. I have no qualm with the state providing financial aid for talented people with the work ethic to match, when so many of our current citizens are worthless.

I had a friend just like this in UC Berkeley. She was amazingly talented, and eventually she managed to work out a deal with the state and the school system, and the states are +1 fantastic physicist better for it.

Hopefully, this girl will be able to do the same, although with some recent UC cutbacks it may be more difficult to secure a seat.

[toonces]

I assume... most scholarships/tuition assistance and such are for citizens/permanent residents of the US? I'm not sure though. Just a guess.

you is right. Is pretty much up to the school to help her out.

[Kuya]

It should be pointed out that the well cherished american notion that people should have the same chances applies here. If people are born into inequality and disadvantage without fault of their own, it is said Americans consider that oportuniteis should be provided so via their work ethic and will, these people can acheive what they want. The same applies here as some have mentioned. Through no fault of her own, the girl came to the US, and she clearly shows more intelligence and ability than most, so should she be given a chance?

[Norellicus]

I don't feel she should be deported or anything, but if she wants to make use of federal funds, then she needs to apply for citizenship. Crying foul and discrimination is a load of crock. There's a difference between discrimination (not being allowed to attend school at all) and loss of privilege (not being recognized for federal funds).

Crying 'BUT EQUALITY!' is a load of horseshit too, especially when they point at someone who is a citizen and say "why don't I get what they do QQ" ...really? Are you thick?