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Illegal Immigrant Children And Teenagers Getting An Education

The controversies over whether illegal immigrant children should be allowed an education from grade school through junior high, high school and college has been a debate that heats up with every issue. Many of our lawmakers push for a way to prevent children from being educated in the United States no matter what the age of the child.

On the other end of the debate are the remaining lawmakers agreeing that illegal immigrant children should be allowed an education. They feel they deserve a break so they can further their education. This has split lawmakers who both have valid reasons for their belief.

The Current Status On Education And The Illegal Alien Child

Major proposals are still pending before the legislation. Some states have allowed illegal aliens to apply for tuition benefits by executing their own state laws.

The Education Issues

What to do about illegal aliens has been a hot topic for ages. Legislation and the issue of educating illegal alien children are as follows:

If they do not have a social security card, illegal immigrants cannot attend college, this is not a legislative issue right now.

The revision of the Dream Act in 2003 was given to the Senate. It contained information purposing that if colleges and universities offered state tuition programs for illegal aliens, certain students could prove themselves through school or the military along with community service could then become a Unite States citizen by earning it these ways.

California created the law in 2002 providing state residents with tuition rates for illegal aliens.

The Student Adjustment Act of 2001, would of permitted a high school child who was an illegal alien who had at least five years of good conduct, a chance to qualify for Pell Grants and other college tuition. They also could not be deported and would apply for residency legally.

In 1996, Prop 187, allowed schools to deny illegal immigrants access to public education schools. This was a step back for states that passed separate laws to allow education of illegal immigrants with tuition rates.

The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act announced prohibiting access to tuition rates for schooling by states in 1996. It not only affected illegal immigrants, but also Americans as these children could not attend school and would have to be taken care of some other way. 

The Supreme Court ruled in 1982 that illegal immigrant children could receive an education in public schools. This has also brought about fear of deportation for parents as the watch their children walk out the door.  

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