THE QUEST FOR EQUALITY IN EDUCATION The issue has continued to swirl around young people: whether all those in the Commonwealth should receive reduced in-state tuition to attend public colleges. Critics say that it is an unfair burden on taxpayers to foot the bill for those who are not here legally. Supporters counter that it is only fair to support all hard-working students and that it would be a revenue boon to state schools, as well. Here, in letters to state officials, students make their passionate case for what they feel it really means for every immigrant to live in the self-proclaimed land of opportunity.
“WE ALL SHOULD HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS” Dear Governor Baker, House Speaker DeLeo, and the Joint Committee on Higher Education: My name is Carmen Pereira. I am a recent immigrant from Cape Verde. I am writing to you today about why Massachusetts should allow undocumented immigrants to receive in-state tuition. Anyone dealing with the problem of the high cost of college should receive in-state tuition to help them pay for it. It is only logical that we implement this because all immigrant students should get it. Just because undocumented immigrants do not have papers does not mean they are animals. People are all the same; we all should have the same rights. Undocumented immigrants work hard in school. They learn English. If they go to college and become educated they can help make Massachusetts great. Sincerely, Carmen Pereira
“THESE ARE HUMAN RIGHTS” Dear Governor Baker, House Speaker DeLeo, and the Joint Committee on Higher Education: My name is Alenny Puello Rivera. I am a recent immigrant from the Dominican Republic. It does not matter where you live or come from, you should have a right to housing, food, a job, and a good education. These are human rights. Undocumented students should receive in-state tuition because they have the same right to go to college at the same price as documented immigrants. As a result, many more undocumented immigrants might enroll at a state college and
the colleges would make more money. The undocumented students would also benefit by having access to a good education. And if there is a victory, it will be a victory not merely for undocumented students but a victory for all students and immigrants in the state. Sincerely, Alenny Puello Rivera
immigrants came to the United States of America for better opportunities. They want their children to have a better education than they had. The skills of the immigrants would make our state better. If we continue to offer access to education
only to some immigrant students, not everyone will have the same chance of going to college and this is not fair.
Sincerely, Christelle Narcisse
“HERE THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES” Dear Governor Baker, House Speaker DeLeo, and the Joint Committee on Higher Education: My name is Daniela Oliveira. I am a recent immigrant from Cape Verde. All undocumented students should receive in-state tuition because we all have
the same rights to be an American. Also, we provide free education through grade 12 for those students but then effectively deny them the possibility of pursuing a higher education. Everyone has the right to go to school and college to be a wonderful person in this country because here there are so many opportunities. Sincerely, Daniela Oliveira
“IT WOULD MAKE MASSACHUSETTS GREATER” Dear Governor Baker, House Speaker DeLeo, and the Joint Committee on Higher Education, My name is Angeris I. Fuentes Paz. I am a recent immigrant from Puerto Rico. Massachussetts would get long-term benefits from educating these students because the more undocumented immigrants earn, the more they will pay in taxes and it would make Massachusetts greater. If we continue to only offer only in-state tuition to documented students, future generations will have a population that is uneducated, which can cause countless problems in the future.
Sincerely, Angeris I. Fuentes Paz
“FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL LIVE IN AN UNJUST WORLD” Dear Governor Baker, House Speaker DeLeo, and the Joint Committee on Higher Education: My name is Nicole Rivas. I am a recent immigrant from the Dominican Republic. Massachusetts should allow undocumented immigrants to receive instate tuition because all immigrants want a new life and to see progress. Undocumented students put all their effort into learning a new language and working hard to earn money for college. Meanwhile, the state would have more educated people with a profession. If we continue to deny them, future generations will live in an unjust world. Sincerely, Nicole Rivas