As the end of August nears, students across Pennsylvania are returning to school.
First days of school carry great significance for me as an undocumented student. Without access to government financial aid and having been forced to pay out-of-state tuition fees, it is close to a miracle that I have been able to complete my undergraduate education and go on to graduate school.
For every story like mine, there are hundreds of others in our state whose potential is cut short every year by discriminatory tuition policies. The Pennsylvania DREAM Act, introduced by Sen. Lloyd Smucker, a Republican from Lancaster County, would make higher education more affordable for qualified undocumented Pennsylvanians by making them eligible to pay in-state tuition, and by allowing them to apply for state financial aid.
My family immigrated to the United States in pursuit of opportunities denied to us in the Dominican Republic. After our visas expired, we joined the ranks of the undocumented, living under a constant fear of deportation with little control over our futures.
Arriving in the sixth grade not knowing English, I worked hard to learn the language and to excel academically. I also became a student leader, serving as president of the student council and several other groups. I graduated from Hempfield High School at the top of my class with a long resume of awards, leadership experiences and volunteer hours. Still, a pile of college rejection letters was all I had to show for my efforts.
Society told me I had reached the end of the line. Most colleges refused to consider me for admission or financial aid. I could not apply for government aid or private loans and I could not work without a Social Security number. I felt trapped. Fortunately, in my darkest moment, HACC welcomed me.
Once over the enrollment hurdle, my biggest challenge became paying for school. Though I grew up in Pennsylvania, HACC considered me “international” and charged me thousands of dollars more than my peers. After two years struggling to meet payment deadlines, I transferred to Amherst College with a full scholarship. I now look forward to commencing my graduate studies at the University of Cambridge thanks to a Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
Most undocumented students are not so fortunate. The Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition estimates that 800 undocumented students graduate high school every year in our state. The majority cannot continue their education largely because of financial constraints exacerbated by institutional policies classifying us as “international.”
We are not “international.” We are Pennsylvanians.
The Pennsylvania DREAM Act would make undocumented students who spend at least two years in, and graduate from, a high school in Pennsylvania eligible for in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities. Pennsylvania should join 17 other states in ensuring tuition equity for its undocumented residents. Doing so is the moral and economically savvy thing to do.
Morally, it is the right thing to do to allow qualified students an opportunity to continue their education. Our parents brought us as children and we have grown up here. We are your neighbors, your classmates and your friends. We are citizens in all aspects, except for paperwork. If we earn our place, we deserve a chance to continue our education just like any other Pennsylvanian.
Economically, the Pennsylvania DREAM Act makes sense. An educated population benefits our state directly through a larger income-tax base and increased consumption and indirectly in lower poverty rates, as many of us will help support our families and communities.
It also is important to note that Pennsylvanians already finance the education of every child in our public schools, regardless of citizenship. Since 2012, many DREAMers have been able to legally work. In-state tuition and financial aid would ensure that taxpayers see a return on our investment by incentivizing these college-educated youth to stay in our state, counterbalancing our aging workforce.
The DREAM Act is not a handout. Undocumented immigrants subsidize our standard of living through their cheap labor and many pay millions of state and local taxes every year. Moreover, the DREAM Act grants no advantage in the admissions process.
Through education, I have been able to not only improve my life, but also the lives of others. As an employment specialist at Church World Service, I assist Cuban entrants in becoming self-sufficient. Just as I once did, these students dream of using their knowledge to contribute to our state.
We all should be allowed to contribute. Call your state representatives and tell them to support the Pennsylvania DREAM Act.
Carlos Adolfo Gonzalez Sierra is a graduate of the Latino Empowerment Project and Leadership Lancaster, and a founding member of the Latino Caucus of the Lancaster County Democratic Party. He recently served as a congressional fellow in the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Honda, a California Democrat.
