On a cold snowy day of January 2003, 14-year-old Sonia and her younger brother traveled more than eight hours from Ecuador to Minnesota.
They settled into a new life in a country of opportunities. After six months of hard work, Sonia moved from middle school to high school. Like many teens, she enjoyed reading books, listening to music and playing sports. But what set her apart was making the grade while staying involved in school activities.
Sonia was a straight-A student who tutored those who needed help. Her classmates voted her to represent them in student government all four years.
Things changed when she graduated from high school and wanted to attend college. Sonia realized the cost of living in a country of immigrants without having legal documents. She was an undocumented student. (At her request, we have used a different name to protect her identity.)
Sonia is one of more than 1.7 million undocumented students in the United States, according to Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights. Of those students, only one out of every 20 attends college.
Most states prohibit undocumented immigrants from paying in-state tuition. Undocumented students can’t qualify for state and federal financial aid. Nine states have passed the Dream Act that allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at state universities. Minnesota is not one of them.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty has said that it would be unfair to offer undocumented students who graduate from Minnesota high schools a benefit that isn’t available to student from other states who are U.S. citizens.
However, not everything seems to be against Sonia. Last month, Pawlenty signed a bill that allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at two-year state colleges.
Sonia isn’t satisfied. “I will never understand why undocumented students have to be limited from the opportunities other students have. People don’t realize that we are not accountable for our situation and that the only thing we aspire is a chance to make ourselves better,” she said.
Nonetheless, she will start at a Minnesota community college in August. She plans to transfer to another school after getting her basics done in two years. Sonia wants to pursue a degree in business administration.
“There is always an option,” she said. “You just have to look for it. I know that many good people are working hard to change these laws so the doors open for us, and I hope that happens soon.”
According to the National Immigration Law Center, undocumented young immigrants are essential for solving the labor shortage caused by the aging U.S. population.
Pablo Tapia, chair of civil rights for the pro-immigrant group ISAIAH, said that the current system prevents young people, perhaps, from becoming the person to find the cure for cancer, the next entrepreneur or a potential scientist.
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