Undocumented NY Students Can Now Apply For College Aid [POLL]

The status of Dreamers — undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children — remains in flux, at least on the federal level. The current administration has sought to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program.

Multiple lawsuits challenging the Trump administration actions to phase out the program have been filed around the country, according to the National Immigration Law Center.

In spite of the legal actions, those people who have or previously had DACA can still apply to renew it. However, who knows what the future will bring.

President Trump even brought the status of DACA into the negotiations over the government shutdown to no avail.

In the meantime, the Democratically controlled New York Legislature this week passed the Jose Peralta New York Dream Act, which will give children in the state, regardless of immigration status, access to state college tuition aid.

The act will let children in New York qualify for merit-based scholarships and the state Tuition Assistance Program.

It will affect about 146,000 young people educated in state public schools but who were ineligible to received financial aid under federal and state law, the New York Times said.

With the passage of the bill, the state joins California, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington in providing access to state-funded aid to undocumented students.

In New York, the children have to meet certain criteria, which must be one of the following:

• Graduated from a New York state high school, having attended for at least two years
• Applied for college within five years of receiving a high school diploma
• Graduated from a certified high school equivalency program
• Be otherwise eligible for in-state tuition

Sen. David Carlucci, D-38th District, who represents Rockland and Westchester counties, was a co-sponsor of the legislation.

"This legislation is about leveling the playing field for all New York high school students seeking higher education," he said in a press release. "Passing the Dream Act removes financial barriers to college and will benefit all New Yorkers.

"By allowing undocumented youths to access financial assistance, they will be able to earn degrees, access highly skilled employment and support their local economies across New York State," Carlucci said.

Long Island Assemblyman Doug Smith, R-5th District, said he led the debate against the Dream Act. In a Facebook post, he wrote that "not only does this bill provide 'free' college tuition to people who are in this country illegally (any age) after just 30 days, but it eliminates any requirement to be a New York Resident: providing 'free' college for taxpayers of New Jersey, Connecticut and Canada courtesy of NY taxpayers!"

Now it's your turn to weigh in on the issue. Vote in our unscientific poll and tell us why in the comments.

Photo caption: Activists rally for the passage of a 'clean' Dream Act, one without additional security or enforcement measures, outside the New York office of Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jan. 10, 2018, in New York City. Photo credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images.