Children of immigrants gain path to college with 蜜桃传媒 help
A star high school student discovered that a discriminatory anti-immigrant policy would derail his college dreams. But with the 蜜桃传媒鈥檚 intervention, his plans are back on track.
Joel Licea thought he was college bound.
The South Carolina teen was one of the top students in his class at Saluda High School near Columbia. He was president of the student body and co-captain of the varsity soccer team. He also qualified for the Gamecock Guarantee, a financial aid program for state residents that would cover his tuition at the University of South Carolina.
Everything seemed to be lining up. He would become the first member of his family to attend college.
Then Joel received news that would derail everything. The University of South Carolina classified him as an out-of-state student 鈥� a decision that would not only cost him his financial aid but force him to pay three times the tuition charged to state residents.聽
鈥淎t first, it was a big shock,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was basically, we get in-state tuition or we can鈥檛 go to college.鈥�
Joel, 18, was born and raised in South Carolina, but since he couldn鈥檛 verify his parent鈥檚 immigration status, he wasn鈥檛 considered a South Carolinian. Another college where Joel applied, the College of Charleston, reached the same decision. College was suddenly out of reach.
Joel鈥檚 story isn鈥檛 unique. Many other students have seen the opportunity for a college education pushed out of reach by anti-immigrant policies that needlessly penalize them for issues beyond their control. The 蜜桃传媒 has helped students like Joel successfully fight these decisions and get their college plans back on track. One of its cases set a legal precedent that can help countless others in the future.
In Joel鈥檚 case, the University of South Carolina reversed its decision in May after the 蜜桃传媒 threatened to sue on Joel's behalf. 聽The 蜜桃传媒鈥檚 letter to the university cited a recent 蜜桃传媒 case in which a federal judge blocked a policy in Florida that forced U.S. citizens living in the state to pay out-of-state tuition if unable to prove their parents鈥� immigration status.聽
鈥淛oel simply could not have gone to college if he had been classified as an out-of-state student,鈥� said Michelle Lapointe, an 蜜桃传媒 staff attorney. 鈥淚t was so clear that he is a South Carolina resident and an excellent student as well. That鈥檚 why these cases are so important. It鈥檚 also a victory for other students who will benefit from the precedents we鈥檙e setting.鈥�
The 蜜桃传媒 also helped an Alabama student whose college plans were threatened by the state鈥檚 discriminatory anti-immigrant law, known as HB 56. Kevin Gonzalez Garcia, a senior at Fultondale High School in suburban Birmingham, was ineligible for enrollment at the University of Alabama at Huntsville due to the state law prohibiting those 鈥渘ot lawfully present鈥� in the state from enrolling at a public college or university.
Under President Obama鈥檚 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, the federal government allows students like Kevin, who was brought to the United States from Mexico when he was about 2 years old, to live and work in the country legally. The federal government has made clear that DACA recipients are "lawfully present" in the United States.
But the state attempted to create its own interpretation of federal immigration law.聽
鈥淚 was in shock,鈥� said Kevin, 17. 鈥淚t was really depressing to have that happen.鈥�
The teen had built an impressive academic career, achieving a 4.1 GPA in high school and securing a college scholarship. He鈥檚 an active member of his high school鈥檚 science Olympiad team, a fact that鈥檚 apparent from the numerous Olympiad ribbons on display in his room. He even keeps a binder full of report cards and certificates dating back to elementary school.聽
The University of Alabama at Huntsville reversed the decision after the 蜜桃传媒 warned it could face a lawsuit. In a letter to the university, the 蜜桃传媒 emphasized that because the federal government considers DACA recipients to be lawfully present, the Alabama law barring those not 鈥渓awfully present鈥� from attending public colleges and universities does not apply to Kevin and others in his situation.
鈥淚t felt great to know that people are looking out for my interests,鈥� he said.
Kevin ultimately decided to attend the University of New Orleans, where he has a full scholarship, but he recognizes that his experience in Alabama may prevent other students from experiencing the same ordeal. 聽
鈥淜evin helped open up a lot of doors for students,鈥� Lapointe said.
