Five Myths About California DREAMers
Posted November 28th, 2011 by Elisa BatistaWhat is a California election without some good old-fashioned scapegoating?
We Californians are innovators in so many ways: home to the first personal computer, the nation’s first recycling program and ground zero for the Americans with Disabilities Act. But we also have this nasty history of exploiting and scapegoating minority groups, like immigrants.
We saw the latter play out this past Black Friday, when conservative legislator, Assemblyman Tim Donnelly (R-Hesperia) played to the shopping crowds by offering them the opportunity to win Target and Best Buy gift cards in exchange for their signatures. He wanted their signatures to put an initiative on the 2012 ballot to overturn AB 131, also known as California’s DREAM Act.
The California DREAM Act allows for undocumented students who have attended a California high school for at least three years and graduated from a high school in the state or earned a GED to apply for financial aid. Assemblyman Donnelly’s move is audacious in more ways than one. He began collecting signatures in the Central Valley, whose agricultural economy relies on as much as 80% of undocumented labor. It’s bad enough that he is scapegoating such a significant part of our economy and our population, but he is also disseminating false information about students who would benefit from the DREAM Act that I hope to dispel here:
1. Donnelly is wrong when he says that undocumented students are taking the financial aid of U.S. American citizens.
In truth there are two provisions in the bill to assure that this does not happen. Section 1, Part B of the bill specifically states that the “number of financial aid awards received by California resident students from financial aid programs administered by the segments shall not be diminished.”
Further down in the bill, Section 3 Part C, states that an undocumented student “shall not be eligible for Competitive Cal Grant A and B Awards unless funding remains available after all California students.”
2. Donnelly is wrong when he says that AB 131 is costing Californians money at a time the state is broke.
Actually, this bill is an investment for our future. Researchers have estimated that our state faces a deficit of one million college-educated workers by 2025. AB 131 allows us to educate our future doctors, lawyers, scientists, teachers and other needed professionals, right here and right now in our home state.
3. Donnelly is wrong when he says that undocumented students come from families who pay no taxes.
Studies have repeatedly shown that undocumented youth come from tax-paying families that contribute greatly to our state and often do not partake in public services because they don’t know that they qualify or are afraid of coming out of the shadows. Households headed by undocumented immigrants in California paid $2.7 billion in state and local taxes in 2010.
4. Donnelly is wrong when he says that withholding financial aid will force these students to return to their home countries.
Actually, the opposite is true. These students are as likely to return to their “home” countries as we are to our ancestors’ foreign lands. These students are typically brought to the U.S. by a parent or relative at a young age and have spent more years in the United States than their country of origin. Most likely, they speak better English than their first language, identify as American and are honor students, athletes, student leaders and aspiring professionals like any other student in California.
5. Donnelly is wrong when he says that undocumented students refuse to assimilate.
In contrast to this assertion, a recent study found that today’s immigrants, documented and undocumented alike, will not only assimilate into American culture, but their home ownership rates will surpass that of native U.S. Americans. Among the findings, the authors found that while only 25.5 percent of immigrants owned their own homes in 2000, by 2030 70.3 percent are projected to own their own homes, on par or slightly higher than the homeownership rate among the native-born.
At a time when California and the nation face a housing crisis of enormous proportions, now is the time to welcome these young people and their ideas and work ethic with open arms. Shame on Assemblyman Donnelly for scapegoating them.
28 Comments
January 3, 2012 at 1:15 am by Brad O.Any amount of money spent on illegal immigrants is money that could have gone to legal citizens. I’m outraged that this bill passed when California is in such a bad financial state as it is. The problem with California is the idiotic legislature and governor who continue to misplace taxpayer funds with scams such as AB131
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December 22, 2011 at 9:52 pm by AnonymousYou are being libelous and facetious. Tim Donnelly did not bribe the public to sign the petition. It was one $505.00 gift card as an incentive for petitioners to get their petitions in by November 28: http://stopab131.com/stopab/
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December 8, 2011 at 10:58 pm by Elisa BatistaAs this successful entrepreneur recently pointed out it takes DEMAND — actual customers — to stimulate our economy. Deporting such a significant number of our labor force and consumers would hurt our economy even further. In fact, having more families pay into our system — which many do in property taxes, sales taxes and other local taxes — would help U.S. citizens seeking an education in California. The scarcity mentality that folks like @Don Honda and @Kate Rian have come from fear, not rationality.
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DonHonda Reply:
December 21st, 2011 at 11:45 pm
@Elisa Batista, Let’s see if she lets me post this! Um, there ya go again. Illegal
Aliens do NOT pay much in taxes. They work low-paying, under-the-counter, cash, Black Market economy and only file taxes when they can claim the $1000 per child tax credit. They such way more out of our system than put back in.
Scarcity mentality??? How many Billions is California in debt? How many State, County, and Local workers have been terminated, “retired”, or “furloughed”. Why is CA the 50th% in amenable business-friendly State? Why is our education in the 48th%?
Please do let’s see you answer that one, w/o the Spin, pretty please?????
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AB 131 is against the CA Education Code and is therefore, Illegal:
http://www.stopcaliforniadreamact.com/66010.htm
I’ve just read the Assembly floor analysis of AB 131 and the controversial segment, “The number of awards to California Residents will not diminish.” is explained in clear language.
http://leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0101-0150/ab_131_cfa_20110831_202353_asm_floor.html
“This bill specifically provides that the number of awards received by California residents through campus-administered programs not be diminished as a result of expanding access to these programs to include AB 540 students. While the number of institutional aid awards cannot be diminished, the bill could result in a change in the mix of recipients and a change in the amounts received by students.”
This means that the NUMBER of Awards will not diminish, but when AB 131 Illegal Alien Students get into the program, the amount of money or even not being awarded aid to Legal California Resident Students will be affected due to being based on need and not merit.
For the first year alone:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-dream-20110901,0,5365623.story
“It is not known how many undocumented students would be eligible for the aid. A Senate committee analysis estimated the bill’s cost at about $40 million. That includes $13 million for Cal Grants, which average about $4,500; up to $15 million in community college waivers; and $12 million in institutional aid from the University of California and California State University systems.”
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Elisa Batista Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 5:10 pm
@DonHonda, Um Don, I checked out your first link and you definitely have an agenda. “Aliens”? We are talking about our fellow Californians here, not martians.
This is an issue of fairness and making smart policy. ALL Californians pay taxes — over 9% sales tax alone! You work, you pay taxes, you get to apply for financial aid. Why should we make these kids second class citizens and exclude them? It isn’t their faults that our system doesn’t grant them a path to citizenship. And it’s hypocritical of us since we are benefiting from the labor and taxes of their parents.
Also, considering that many top Silicon Valley firms were started by immigrants — yahoo and google immediately come to mind — and they hire lots of Americans in our state, wouldn’t it be nice if we could tap into the entrepreneurial spirit of these young people? At a time when we need to grow jobs and increase our tax base, we should educate them, not leave them out of the American DREAM. It’s the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do.
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DonHonda Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 8:51 pm
Elisa seems to have a problem with the term: Illegal Alien. This is correct legal use and is even in the title and contents oaf AB 131–CA DREAM Act–Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) . Sorry
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Elisa Batista Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 9:30 pm
@DonHonda, That’s really disingenuous of you, Don. You know very well that most Americans don’t talk like that. The ones who actually use it — like yourself — or even make up words like “illegals” like our friend below, don’t come at it from a good place.
We clearly have different world views. I, for one, go to bed with a clear conscience. I know what immigrants like my father have and continue to contribute to this country and see a lot of potential for this generation. I just think it’s sad that some people feel threatened or are afraid, when really, it is something that should be embraced.
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DonHonda Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 9:33 pm
@Elisa Batista, Then I suppose that you don’t like Ab 131–Free State money for Illegal
Aliens, as specified in the title and contents of the Bill. You sure do love to hate rant.
Kate Rian Reply:
December 8th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
@Elisa Batista, In U.S. law, an alien is “any person not a citizen or national of the United States—This is not a term that was made up by a racist! It is the correct definition. Additionally, Donnelly is correct when he says that undocumented students are taking the financial aid of U.S. American citizens—-(not to mention their sought after spaces)Evidently, Ms. Batista believes that California has an endless supply of money, & every needy student will receive grants…She is completely oblivious to the fact that we are bankrupt due to entitlement spending! There is no endless fund… this childlike mentality has completely destroyed California!
@Elisa Batista…you said it all!! I’m glad there are woman like you writing about this. That Sandy Lopez lady is just as ignorant as they come!! I recently got my residency after waiting 20 years!! and I am only 22 years old so i am with you 100 and ten percent. It was an unreasonable wait and nothing like the laws in the past. So pleas, Sandy Lopez if you have an easier way of doing this speak up.
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November 29, 2011 at 6:33 am by Sandy LopezBy the way I happen to know several people that have joined Cal Dreams and they are being told no matter what they will receive the grants since the now legislation have the ball rolling to include them in the grant system. (therefore the cost went from 14 million, to a possible 23-40 million). I directed all of them to the paper work to apply for citizenship.
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Elisa Batista Reply:
November 29th, 2011 at 1:07 pm
@Sandy Lopez, Again, their parents pay taxes and they have the grades get into CAL. Why shouldn’t they receive any financial aid?
As for their undocumented status — see my message below about our contemporary immigration laws. The odds are pretty stacked against them. No way would any of our parents be able to attain citizenship under the current system.
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Kathy Jones Reply:
November 29th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
@Elisa Batista, I see nothing in the AB131 that says it will be given to children who parents paid taxes. Maybe you can show that part to me.
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Elisa Batista Reply:
November 29th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
@Kathy Jones, Property taxes? I know undocumented folks who own homes. Sales taxes? In California, it’s over 9%. Payroll and state income taxes? How are they to survive without work? Shall I go on?
Sandy Lopez Reply:
November 29th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Elisa: So there is nothing in AB131 to ensure that students that receive these grants parents have paid taxes like State/Federal taxes. How are they survive without work? Its called cash. Shall I go on?
Sandy Lopez Reply:
November 29th, 2011 at 2:28 pm
By the way I worked agriculture two years. Cash. No check. Or did you not know that?
Anonymous Reply:
December 21st, 2011 at 11:50 pm
@Kathy Jones, CA Sales tax is 7.25%–9.75%, in different areas when local added taxes included. And it’s hard to pay tax when you buy from flea markets, thrift stores, and tamales from the local neighbor lady.
Well Ms. Basitisa your article fails in so many ways having come from a family of grandparents who came here illegally and whose parents then understood the importence of following this nations laws and became legal Americans, you miss so many points its hard to begin. That 2.7 Billion does not make up for the 10.5 Billion illegal immigrants cost the state. The bill is so grey in so many areas the cost is now up to 23-40 billion a year for tax payers to pay for this. And as a now adult and in college it by far the worst factor is the fact I know as a adult I have to follow all the laws set forth by this nation. I can no longer play the victim card and rely on the taxpayers of this state to pay for any thing they possibly did to me. Therefore the right thing for these students to do is to become Americans first. As my parents did.You also fail to understand to become a license professional of this state such as a doctor you have to prove that you have a visa or a citizen of this nation. If your going to waste writing space I suggest you promote the now adults of illegal immigrants on how to apply to become Americans. And stop playing the victim card. As we all carry baggage of our parents in one form or another.
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Elisa Batista Reply:
November 29th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
@Sandy Lopez, Oh, I pray, where can I send these young people to get their citizenship? Of course, they want to be citizens! But our CONTEMPORARY immigration laws — not the ones your parents and my parents underwent — does not provide a path to citizenship. The barriers are much higher than when my father immigrated here in the 1960s. Even he understands that.
And, yes, we have families that are waiting so long for papers — 15 years! — that they have become grandparents to U.S. citizens. That is not a reasonable wait.
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Sandy Lopez Reply:
November 29th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
@Elisa Batista, lol my Aunt just came over and it did not take over 3 years. But then again she wanted to follow the laws. Most countrys it takes 10 years or more. You seem to fail to understand why ALL countrys have immigration laws.
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Sandy Lopez Reply:
November 29th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
FYI I am Sandy on Kathy computer. And both my parents was born in Mexico so I am 100% hispanic but also 100% American. And I also strongly beleive in following our nations laws (never have been arrested). And I also strongly beleive AB131 should go to the voters to decide. I take pride in being a hispanic, but I also take more pride in being a American.
Elisa Batista Reply:
November 29th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
@Sandy Lopez, Sandy, Half of Americans don’t pay federal taxes because they don’t earn enough. But working class people pay their fair share in other ways — like I listed above.
By the way, I don’t believe your story about your aunt at all. Having lived around undocumented people my whole life, I know their story is much more common than your supposed aunt’s.
Also, I refuse to engage with someone online who can’t even speak her native language. It’s countries, not “countrys.” It’s irritating to me that someone with U.S. citizenship can’t even bother to learn how to communicate in proper English. What have you done with the opportunities you’ve had?
sandy Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 3:30 pm
@Elisa Batista, Just because you pay an entrance fee into a Disney Theme park does not mean you should have access to health benefits and retirements available to Disney Employees. illegal is illegal and give no one a right to financial aid reserved for citizens of the nation.
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LEGAL Immigrant Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 8:10 pm
@Elisa Batista,
1. I am a LEGAL immigrant. I got citizenship. It does not take 15 years. I know many legal immigrants who also received citizenship in 2 or 3 years.
2. I do not support ANY immigration reform until borders are closed and the influx of illegals have stopped
3. Once we deal with number 2, I do not have an issue with a pathway to citizenship for children of illegals. I too brought children into this country – LEGALLY – and they see the US as their home. There must be restrictions however being they cannot sponsor the parents who broke the immigration laws
4. Illegal students CANNOT work LEGALLY upon graduation. I feel their pain, however, it is not fair that LEGAL immigrants and US citizens will lose out for people who are squatting.
5. I do not understand your logic. If the dream act will not cost anything AND legal students/citizens will not lose funding, where is the money coming from? If I have $100 to give to 5 students today, how will that same $100 go to more than 5 students 5 legal plus unknown illegal? I want to shop at your store.
6. Not all illegals pay taxes. Many are paid under the table in cash – no taxes paid. Many only qualify for low pay minimum wage jobs due to lack of skills. Taxes paid are very low and probably do not pay for their healthcare. Those who do pay taxes are doing so because they are using someone else’s social security number – ID fraud, another crime.
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Great Post! Thank you for writing this!
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November 29, 2011 at 12:27 am by Hazahel RamirezPlease, please! I need information, I want to know if I can participate in public services for community service but I am afraid of the lack of information that there is. I know that I can help many. I know that I can convince a great deal to pursue community service if they only knew they could participate, where they could participate and how they can participate in community service. I also wanted to join the Dreamers but I have not received any word from my only Facebook contact and source of only information to join the a Dreamers group. I want to participate, I can help! I am an undocumented student at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita. I am striving for my B.A. in fire science and I will get there. But I need this information because I believe I can get many to follow my footsteps. Thank you very much. Get back at me as soon as possible.
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Elisa Batista Reply:
November 29th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
@Hazahel Ramirez, Hi Hazahel, I would sign up at Presente.org, DreamActivist.org, and DefineAmerican.com. Those are just a few of the organizations I know off the top of my head to get in touch with DREAM activists.
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