Somos Un Pueblo Unido Protecting Immigrants' Rights in New Mexico

Somos Un Pueblo Unido 1205 Parkway Dr, Suite B Sante Fe, NM   87507   telephone: 505-424-7832 fax: 505-438-8518 email: somos@rt66.com

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Santa Fe, NM--On February 15th, 250 immigrant students representing over ten counties in New Mexico traveled to Santa Fe to lobby their state legislators in favor of a bill that would make it easier for them to finance a college education. Immigrant Student Lobby Day, a first of its kind event, brought students from as far as Hobbs and Farmington to talk about their educational aspirations and the barriers they face in pursuing a higher education.

Every year, hundreds of immigrant students who have lived in New Mexico since early childhood graduate from local high schools, but are ineligible to receive in-state tuition rates and financial aid because they are undocumented or because they are still in process of becoming legal permanent residents. Senate Bill 582, sponsored by Senator Cynthia Nava (D-Doña County), Chairperson of the Senate Education Committee, would allow these students to have the same tuition and financial aid benefits as any other resident of the state as long as they have attended a secondary educational institution for at least one year and have received a high school diploma or a GED in the state. Similar bills have been enacted in eight other states including Oklahoma and Texas.

“The young people affected by this bill did not have a say in the decision to come to New Mexico,” said Senator Cynthia Nava, “It is only fair that we give them the same opportunity to excel as their classmates. New Mexico would reap the economic and social benefits in the long run.”

Somos Un Pueblo Unido, a Santa Fe-based immigrant advocacy organization in support of SB 582, trained hundreds of immigrant students throughout New Mexico about the legislative process and organized Tuesday’s event.

Mayte García, a community college student and Somos’ board member, said “It is important for legislators to meet the students from their districts who are currently being shut out of the higher education system. We hope that these students’ stirring testimonies will move legislators to give them equal access to college and an opportunity to fulfill their potential.”

Anna Torres, a 16 year old student who moved to Santa Fe from Mexico with her parents when she was two, told her Representative, “Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a teacher so that I can help other kids better integrate into this community. I know my family won’t be able to pay for my college education without financial aid.”

Students are joined by several educational organizations, unions, business groups, and religious organizations in support of Senator Nava’s proposal that range from the New Mexico Association of Community Colleges and the Council of University Presidents to the Catholic Conference of Bishops.

Senate Bill 582 has passed through the Senate Education Committee and Judiciary Committee and will be heard in the Finance Committee soon.