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

Santa Fe, NM  -  On Tuesday, March 15, the House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 582 which will allow immigrant students, regardless of immigration status, to obtain in-state tuition and state funded financial aid in New Mexico. After a three-hour debate, in a final vote of 46-21, the House approved the bill, sponsored by Senator Cynthia Nava from Doña Ana County, citing the need for equal opportunities for immigrant youth and economic development for the state as reasons to support the measure.

SB 582 is meant to benefit hundreds of immigrant students who have lived in New Mexico since early childhood and have graduated from local high schools, but are ineligible to receive college benefits because they are undocumented or because they are still in process of becoming legal permanent residents. They will 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, New York, Texas and Utah.

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

Somos Un Pueblo Unido, a Santa Fe-based immigrants’ rights organization, worked for more than four years to garner support for immigrant student access to a college education.

Mayté García, a community college student and Somos’ Board member, said “We are so proud of all the students who participated in this campaign. Their testimonies moved legislators on both sides of the isle to give them equal access to college and an opportunity to fulfill their potential.”

The final passage of SB 582 comes at a time when US Congress contemplates federal measures that would grant undocumented students who have lived in the US since childhood legal status if they complete two years of college. The DREAM Act, which enjoys wide bipartisan support nationally, is expected to be reintroduced into the US Senate soon. “By passing this bill, the Legislature is sending a strong message to Washington that New Mexico cares about these students’ future and recognizes the urgent need to make higher education more accessible to them,” added García.

Claudia García, a twenty year old student and volunteer intern at the local hospital who was brought to New Mexico from Chihuahua when she was eight, said “It has been my dream for as long as I can remember to be a nurse so that I can help people in my community. Thanks to this law, I know I will be able to afford college.”

Several educational organizations, unions, business groups, and religious organizations endorsed Senator Nava’s bill including the New Mexico Association of Community Colleges, the Council of University Presidents, and Catholic Conference of Bishops.

Senate Bill 582 will now go to the Governor’s desk for final approval.