Continue ?ght for access: N.C. Coalition for College Access deserves praise for ?ghting for a?ordable education opportunities

The N.C. Coalition for College Access planned to get together Saturday to address a problem that has plagued the landscape of the United States’ higher education system: access for undocumented immigrants.

Allowing qualified undocumented students affordable access to institutions of higher learning is essential to ensuring a meritocratic United States.

Students who were brought to this country as children shouldn’t be given second-class treatment simply because their parents made a decision for them.

Additionally, undocumented residents of the state pay most of the of taxes that documented residents do.

The Coalition for College Access seeks to ensure that college is both legally and financially accessible to undocumented immigrants. Unfortunately, the inclement weather ended up postponing the meeting, which expected a turnout of nearly 100 students representing 15 different schools.

This summit in particular was to focus on training the organization’s members to inform high schools and their undocumented students about their college options.

Currently, undocumented students are allowed to enroll at any college they are accepted to regardless of their citizenship status.

Sadly, undocumented students must pay out-of-state rates even if they have been living here for most of their lives. The coalition hopes to change this through both state and federal reforms.

“We plan on lobbying Congress to get the Dream Act pushed through in the spring,” said Ron Bilbao, the chairman of the group.

The Dream Act is a bill that would permit undocumented students to attend universities at in-state rates if they meet certain criteria. Although the legislation would not permit undocumented students to obtain a Pell Grant, it would make them eligible for federal work study. This is a step in the right direction.

Undocumented students who have been in this state long enough should be given in-state tuition rates to universities and colleges.