There is an injustice that needs to be corrected in our state’s Tuition Assistance Program. Currently, the program does not provide assistance to all the young men and women who need it, because it does not accept applications from undocumented students who were brought into this country at a young age.
New York State’s proposed DREAM Act would right this wrong and make the Tuition Assistance Program available to undocumented students across the state. As the new legislative session starts tomorrow, the governor and the state Legislature should swiftly enact this legislation.
New York was one of the first states in the nation to offer in-state tuition rates to undocumented students. We have always been a destination for ambitious and hardworking people in search of opportunity. We can help New York remain a destination of opportunity by expanding the Tuition Assistance Program and extending assistance to undocumented students.
As a nation of immigrants, we must not punish undocumented students for decisions beyond their control. Every student deserves a chance to make their dreams of higher education come true and a chance to contribute to their community.
New York needs the best-educated workforce possible so that we can continue to attract employers that create good jobs that pay well and help strengthen our state economy. The demand for higher-skilled workers is increasing, especially in New York City, where the majority of undocumented students live.
An opportunity to attend college can make a dramatic difference in employment and income levels. The unemployment rate for men and women with only a high school diploma was twice as high as the unemployment rate for those with a bachelor’s degree in 2013. The average wage for a worker with a bachelor’s degree in the downstate region was 85% higher than it was for those with only a high school diploma.
If the legislation is passed, undocumented students would qualify for state-sponsored tuition assistance if they graduate from a New York State high school that they have attended for at least two years, or if they receive a New York State GED.
The long-term economic benefits of extending Tuition Assistance Program eligibility to undocumented students would outweigh the initial $20 million investment, according to a report issued by the state Controller’s office.
Those opposed to the DREAM Act claim it would take money from students who were born in this country to give to those who were not. That is simply not true. No citizen who qualifies would ever be denied a tuition assistance grant at the expense of providing assistance to undocumented students, but these students also need help.
The economic reality is that New York needs the Dream Act. And, we need it in 2015.
Sen. José Peralta represents the Queens neighborhoods of Jackson Heights, Corona, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst and a portion of Astoria. Thomas DiNapoli is New York State Controller.