Immigrant Youth Movement Builds Momentum in Maryland
Obama's deportation "deferred action" program and Maryland's "Dream Act" are fueling the JSA movement.
Photos
It was a watershed week for Maryland's “Dreamers”—a week that brought the first step toward temporary reprieve for more than 1,000 illegal immigrants brought to the country as children, and another step for an immigrant youth movement that is gaining steam as voters stare down a November referendum on in-state tuition for undocumented students.
Casa de Maryland, the state’s largest immigrant advocacy group, led a push to get more than 1,000 applicants to Langley Park and Baltimore on Wednesday and Thursday for the onset of President Obama's program to give certain illegal immigrants a two-year shield against being deported.
Announced in June, Obama’s “deferred action” program applies to illegal immigrants who:
- came to the United States when they were younger than 16,
- have lived in the U.S. for at least five years,
- are 30 years old or younger, and
- have never been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, multiple misdemeanor offenses or pose a threat to national security.
They must also meet one of these conditions:
- be enrolled in school,
- have graduated from high school (or earned a GED), or
- were honorably discharged from the U.S. military.
Organizers of the Langley Park and Baltimore clinics estimate some 10,000 people in Montgomery County are eligible. Nationally, the count approaches 2 million, reported USA Today.
Advocates and applicants celebrated the long-awaited measure this week across the country—even though applicants’ long-term status remains unclear because the policy could be revoked by a new president or by an act of Congress, reported the Huffington Post.
That celebration was nonetheless effusive Friday night at a five-hour concert in downtown Silver Spring. The concert marked a crystallizing moment for the JSA Movement, which has rallied thousands of immigrant youths hoping to tilt November's Dream Act referendum in their favor.
JSA sprung to life after the near-deportation of Germantown teen Jorge Steven Acuña, whom federal agents seized with his parents in March and then released amid community outcry and political intervention.
The movement quickly turned its focus to Maryland’s version of the Dream Act, which would allow illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition if they graduated from a state high school and their families pay state taxes, among other requirements.
Gov. Martin O’Malley ratified the Dream Act in May. Opponents promptly mounted a petition drive that has put the issue on the ballot this fall.
The movement, which now goes by the moniker “Justice for Students in America,” is determined to win the referendum with its grassroots, youth-driven campaign. JSA has amassed more than 2,000 supporters on Facebook and nearly 10,000 followers on Twitter.
“JSA has pretty much not only inspired the local community, politicians, city and county council members and state’s attorneys, we have also infiltrated the schools and reached out to the rising voters that are going to be voting in the upcoming election, getting them involved,” said Francisco Cartagena, one of JSA’s founding members.
With the start of school approaching, JSA plans to ratchet up its efforts to draw even more young immigrants into the political fold.
“What we plan on doing is branching out to high schools and community colleges and continue the voter registrations and get them to understand what these politicians are saying, and essentially to hold them accountable once they are elected,” said Cartagena.
Brad
9:59 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Taxpayers must cover the difference between Out-of-State Tuition and the much lower In-State Tuition rates as illegal immigrants displace out-of-state students. At the University of Maryland CP it would cost $17,000 per illegal student per year; $5,000 per Maryland universities average about 23% of their student population as Out-of-State, but are authorized to levels up to 30%. As the In-State Illegal Immigrant student population explodes, universities will be forced to displace thousands of In-State Citizen students rather than lucrative Out-of-State students!
Illegals only need to file tax returns, not pay taxes to qualify for In-State Tuition -- most already file for the child and poverty tax credits. Foreign tourists pay more in taxes than non-citizens and tourists don’t use our public schools, colleges, jails or social services.
Subsidizing college education for non-citizens is a bad investment: Federal law prohibits hiring any illegals – they also can’t legally vote or obtain a Maryland drivers’ license. However, illegals can simply pay the out-of-state tuition rates like international students.
There are over 300,000 and growing illegal immigrants in Maryland, thousands will qualify for In-State Tuition. Costs to subsidize their college education will be in the hundreds of millions. This on top of the $1.9 billion per year just for K-12 education, non-emergency healthcare and incarceration costs for illegals.
Help Save Maryland.org
Erick Lastarria
11:17 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Brad, please fill the blanks on your arguments by putting the most accurate information. Only those undocumented, very soon documented, students who graduate from a community college will be able to transfer to the University of Maryland. The Maryland Dream Act is very specific about this process, where the undocumented immigrant will have to graduate from a community college in order to attend any university of the Maryland University System. I can provide you copies of my tax return for you to show at your Help Save Maryland website for you to see if I don't pay taxes.
Brad
11:50 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Erick, my paragraph above mentions 2 years at $5000 per year. Should say Community College not Universities. A typo but good catch!
Not interested in seeing your tax returns. That would mean you are holding a job illegally in the United States. A job that an unemployed American citizen desperately needs! Probably with a fake Social Security number. Would have to turn you, as well as your lawbreaking employeer, in to the Feds.
Erick Lastarria
2:42 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
I've never used a fake social security #. I've been a self-employed individual. I wonder if you will threat me the same cowardly way you do it on this forum if we see each other again. I was at the screening of "They Come to America." I approached to you and you and I had a nice and friendly chat.
BTW, you are welcomed. We are here to set the record straight so there isn't any misinformation being spread.
Brad
2:58 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Erick, I did not recognize your name. No matter. A self employed illegal alien is still a lawbreaker. Cowardly? You are an univited guest in our country. Nothing to be proud of. Yes I talked with you and many other illegal aliens at the excellent film screening "They Come To America". Go to www.theycometoamerica.com The film highlights the massive crossings of primarily Hispanic illegals via Mexico and the negative impact on American citizens. We are showing the film again in Frederick County this Thursday, August 23, 7pm Frederick Community College. All are welcome! Free dvd of film for all who attend!
Erick, I treated you nicely and respectfully like I treat all people I meet. But at the end of the day you have no moral or legal right to be in Maryland if you are an illegal alien. (Assuming you are who you say you are!). i look forward to our next encounter.
Erick Lastarria
3:32 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Of course I am an illegal alien until my green card comes in the mail. I have a driver's license, credit cards from big financial institutions and bills with my name. I have all the right in the world to be here. I pay taxes remember. And, I'm in the process of getting my permanent residency since February 29, 2012.
Theresa Defino
10:04 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
You are incorrect. Instate tuition is offered to these students because they are IN STATE. There are no "out of state" undocumented kids enrolling in MD schools and getting the in-state rate.
Help Save Humanity
Theresa Defino
10:11 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Myths vs. Facts (and, uh, a GREAT investment--gets folks off public support)
http://www.actioninmontgomery.org/content/mythsarguments-regarding-maryland-dream-act
Who is eligible:
http://www.actioninmontgomery.org/content/eligibility-requirements-maryland-dream-bill
High school attendance. Students must attend a high school in Maryland for at least 3 years
jag
10:28 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Why would I want these kids to be educated and contribute to society/tax coffers? It makes far more sense to make sure they have to take menial jobs and contribute less in taxes. That way I can make racist generalizations about Hispanics and complain about how I have to pay for them!
#sarcasm.
RVN6768
11:16 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Do they have to graduate?
Brad
11:22 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
No need to graduate. Expect the illegal alien community to be pushing for financial aid and grants next year if In-State Tuition Law passes in November. CASA of Maryland will argue that the poor illegals can't even afford college with in-state tuition. Just like California did.
Brad
10:22 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
November 6, 2012, the voters of Maryland will have an opportunity to tell Governor O'Malley and his friends in Annapolis what we think about subsidizing the college education of lawbreaking illegal alien families. Breaking the law by entering the country and settling in Maryland is not a justification for receiving in-state tuition. Using our schools, hospitals and social services, and taking jobs from Maryland citizens should not be rewarded further by providing in-state tuition. Illegal aliens must pay the out-of -state rate if they wish to attend college in Maryland. Its an issue of justice and fairness for Maryland taxpayers and their families. The best investment for Maryland citizens is to enforce the law and have illegal aliens return to their native countries.
Little Lulu
10:29 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Anyone with an ounce of sense knows this was merely a push to get the Hispanic population to vote for Obama. It says this provides a 2 year reprieve...so what happens after the 2 years is up?
jag
10:35 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
That's up to the next President and Congress. The measure was always referred to as a stopgap because Congress is currently being held hostage by the far Right which refuses to actually address anything for fear of giving the President "a win" (God forbid the far Right care more about the country than who gets the credit). Immigration reform is Congress' responsibility, not the President's.
Brad
10:46 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
And its more than a 2 year reprieve from being deported. The illegal alien students will also get work permits! We have 23 million American citizens unemployed (8.3%+) and now we are adding 2 million more workers to the workforce. Yikes!
Moreover, the Feds are not going to deport the parents and extended families of these illegal alien students so the Amnesty on deportations got a whole lot bigger, probably 8 million plus of the 20 million illegals in the country!
Theresa Defino
11:16 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Oh, right. "Obama" passed Maryland's law.
The Dream Act has not passed Congress.
Brad
11:28 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Correct, the so-called Dream Act did not pass Congress but nobody told Obama. He is acting liked it passed, granting waivers left and right. Seems you can get legal status for 2 years by just showing your Starbucks card. Many of these illegal alien students barely speak of lick of English. They cut ahead of true immigrants that have been waiting for years to become Americans. These illegal alien students have been and want to continue to be on the public dole. America is just a big cash machine to them.
jag
11:33 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
I'll give a dollar to anyone who's capable of sticking more fact-less (and commonsense-less) claims together in a paragraph than Brad. Good luck...you'll need it.
Brad
11:52 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Frank, just a bit of humor. Actually the Feds are taking photocopies of pretty much anything to prove status.
Erick Lastarria
2:46 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Why do you oppose to bring order to a big mess? Didn't you support the end of lawlessness? These young men and women are going to be registered and given the right to seek for legal employment. Isn't this what we were looking for, to end up cheap labor and unlawful work? You are either for following the law or not. It seems that you don't want neither.
Tim Miller
12:41 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
I don't care who you are or where you are from. You have two option to choose from when you come to America. 1. You go through the process that "We the people have created." meaning, you follow the law and come here legal! or 2. You either ILLEGALLY sneak into our country or you don't leave when your time is up. We are a nation of laws and if you don't like the law, change it. Until than, why should my hard earn tax dollars go to support any ILLEGAL?
Brad
1:14 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Tim, I hope you and other concerned citizens will join www.HelpSaveMaryland.org We can put an end to illegal immigration in our state by working together. Stopping in-state college tuition for illegal aliens is our first step.
Corbin Dallas Multipass
1:45 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
"We can put an end to illegal immigration in our state by working together."
http://www.pewhispanic.org/2012/04/23/net-migration-from-mexico-falls-to-zero-and-perhaps-less/
I post this pretty much as part of every discussion on state immigration policy comes up, because it is important to understand that the economy has handled the "problem" of illegal immigration by making it unpalatable for immigrants to come.
Now the only "problem" is how to treat those who are here. In the case of children who came unknowingly to this country and are choosing to become productive citizens, it is a choice of sympathy vs cruelty.
"Until than, why should my hard earn tax dollars go to support any ILLEGAL?"
Because when someone has lived here since the age of 2 and is pursuing a degree at an institution for higher learning they're a person we want to keep as a citizen, and your tax dollar are an investment in someone who will positively contribute to the economy and generate tax revenues that will pay for services for all.
Brad
2:08 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Actually the vast majority of these "good students" arrived with or without immediate family when they were teenagers. I am not compelled to subsidize their education any further. Had we enforced the law earlier this would be a mute point. This is not the American dream but in fact a nightmare. Illegal aliens, the vast majority of which are Hispanic, send an ever growing portion of thier income south of the border each year, hardly helping our economy. In MontCo we pay more than $200K to educate each illegal K-12. Add in anchor babies, gangs, crime, healthcare, social services and this is truly a budget buster. Over $1.9 billion per year.
The worst part of the so-called MD Dream act is that it never ends. CASA of Maryland will keep attracting and sustaining more and more mostly Hispanic illegals to Maryland. Taxpayers will continue to be forced to foot the bill. Time to turn off the faucet.
Erick Lastarria
4:09 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
I didn't know you were a prophet. How can you see CASA of Maryland pushing for financial aid in the future? Dude, seriously, you need to stick to the issue. It's about in-state tuition for long time Maryland residents who happen to be undocumented.
C.Z. Guy
2:13 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
"Casa de Maryland, the state’s largest immigrant advocacy group" - you need to put the word 'illegal' between 'largest' and 'immigrant'
Brad
3:00 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Attention fellow citizens. Help Save Maryland is co-hosting the excellent film screening "They Come To America". Go to www.theycometoamerica.com The film highlights the massive crossings of primarily Hispanic illegals via Mexico and the negative impact on American citizens.
We are showing the film again in Frederick County this Thursday, August 23, 7pm Frederick Community College. All are welcome! Free dvd of film for all who attend!
Erick Lastarria
3:27 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
It was $10.00 per CD before. What's the deal with changing the price? I bet no one wanted to pay $10.00 for that biased CD. The people who are in the movie barely speak English. It's a terrible movie. No wonder no one wanted to buy the rights to this movie and the guy who shot this movie will never gain a place in the documentary filming arena. I bet you all the money he won't.
Brad
3:32 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Erick, we have a donor who enjoyed the movie so much he purchased 500 copies to distribute as gifts to fellow concerned Americans! What a great and generous country we live in. You of all people should know that.
Erick Lastarria
3:57 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
I guess the Tea Party and your dear Help Save Maryland will indeed send Mr. Lynch to Hawaii. Good job. And, I thought you were against wasteful spending. I guess I was wrong.
Theresa Defino
3:35 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Save Maryland. Save humanity. Support the Maryland Dream Act!
http://www.casademaryland.org/get-involved-mainmenu-102/maryland-dream
http://md-iaf.org/content/about-md-dream-act
http://educatingmarylandkids.org/
Erick Lastarria
3:40 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Mr. Brad Botwin can't come to this forum to advocate fighting illegal immigration while opposing to any initiative to fix this broken system. It's in the best interest of our state to help these students come out of the shadows and identify themselves. How many students fill the mold he has created for his idea of an illegal alien? I know I don't. I pay income taxes, real property taxes and have car insurance. I work at a law firm. I am in the process of getting my green card. But, yet, he wants us to believe that the Maryland Dream Act and the Deferred Action for Childhood Beneficiaries are all thugs and English illiterate. Nothing further from the truth.
Brad
3:52 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Erick, the voting citizens of Maryland will decide the issue on November 6. Referendum # 1, yes or No to provide In-State tuition for illegal aliens.
Not sure how you survived in the shadows all these years. A house, car, taxes, wow. And no green card to boot. Are you GSP El Salvador? Anyway hope you dont try to vote November 6, but you already know that as you work in a law firm.
Erick Lastarria
4:11 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
This is a serious accusation Brad. I hope you stand by your word when we meet again.
Erick Lastarria
4:02 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
I am Peruvian. I was dressed on a suit the day we met at the Rockville Library. I guess you don't see illegal aliens dress in suits these days. I had a normal life all these years. I have a bachelor in political science and philosophy. I want to go to law school and pay back to society in greater and better ways. There isn't anything wrong with that. But, knowing you and your cohorts, you will say: "go to Peru and make it a better country."
J. Medina
4:30 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Brad your just a behind the door biget. Maybe they are given Latino kids and opportunity since the common American student keeps dropping out of school. I mean somebody has got to be educated in this country.
Brad
12:08 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Hey Union boy. Lets try to keep the conversation on the table. I don't appreciate being called a bigot. We are having an open discussion here. And get a dictionary. Its "bigot", not "biget". Clearly the Maryland public school education failed you.
Theresa Defino
4:38 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Here's the actual language that will appear on the ballot in November. Note the provisions of the Dream Act to not apply only to immigrants.
Question 4
Referendum Petition
Public Institutions of Higher Education – Tuition Rates (Ch. 191 of the 2011 Legislative Session)
Establishes that individuals, including undocumented immigrants, are eligible to pay in-state tuition rates at community colleges in Maryland, provided the student meets certain conditions relating to attendance and graduation from a Maryland high school, filing of income taxes, intent to apply for permanent residency, and registration with the selective service system (if required); makes such students eligible to pay in-state tuition rates at a four-year public college or university if the student has first completed 60 credit hours or graduated from a community college in Maryland; provides that students qualifying for in-state tuition rates by this method will not be counted as in-state students for purposes of counting undergraduate enrollment; and extends the time in which honorably discharged veterans may qualify for in-state tuition rates.
Brad
12:11 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
It applies to illegal aliens. "Undocumented immigrants" is not a term used by the Supreme Court, the Justice Department and citizens.
ED
1:31 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
I have a question that perhaps one of you can answer. If a student came here prior to the age of 15, receives the deportation deferral and a work permit, would they currently be eligible for in-state tuition at colleges in Maryland?
Erick Lastarria
2:16 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
It depends where the student lives. Montgomery College in Rockville extends in-county tuition to those who have graduated from a MCPS institution. A very good policy.
ED
2:37 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Erick, thank you for that answer. I was aware that Montgomery College has that policy, but my question is whether colleges, such as the University of Maryland, will charge Maryland students who possess a deportation deferral and a work permit in-state tuition or out-of-state tuition regardless of Maryland's Dream Act implementation.
Corbin Dallas Multipass
2:43 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
ED - My guess is that as long as they meet the criteria of the dream act as Theresa pointed to them above, i.e. they attend CC for two years with sufficient grades, submit tax returns for three, and are accepted into the institution of higher learning, they probably would receive in state tuition. But I'm not a lawyer, just somewhat familiar with this law's wording.
Erick Lastarria
2:53 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
I pushed the University of Maryland to extend in-state tuition to three students who were in the process of getting their green cards. They only need to have a pending immigration case. I hope they classify deferred action as a pending immigration status. It's common sense.
Brad
2:49 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Ed, there is alot of confusion with the President's whimsical implementation of a 2 yr Amnesty and 2 yr work permits. Not really sure what to believe but most of the literature says it has no impact on issue. We are going on the assumption that it will not affect the Referendum vote up or down on in-state tuition for illegal alien students. Montgomery College, which has violated state and federal law in providing in-state tuition for illegals for the past 5 or so years, has been dragged to court by Judicial Watch and concerned local citizens. Since MC survives on taxpayer dollars you would think they would follow the law.
Erick Lastarria
2:55 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Frankly, some kind of action is better than nothing at all. What's the Republican alternative? Self-deportation? I will never leave my family behind. I was taught that family came first.
ED
3:11 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Thank you to everyone that answered my question(s).
J. Medina
10:49 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Brad-First of all im not a boy im a man and secondly you have clearly proven my case when you use the word "boy" only racist bigot speak in that tone. So thanks for confirming that for us. Also, you should feel good now that I've helped you find your true self.
By the way undocumented immigrants is the proper term for immigrants that have not received their proper immigration documents. Where it includes African, Chinese, Ethiopians, Japanese and all other cultures that make up the United States. An "alien" to my knowledge is something that is from out of space. Not only that, but you keep talking about " your tax dollars " how about the billions of dollars that is contributed in tax dollars by those who work and can not claim it, so the money sits there so people like you can have paved roads and be able to enjoy the finest thing this country has to offer. So stop your senseless arguments...........Union Yes!!
Brad
11:16 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
What? Undocumented is the proper term? Better check that with Justice Sotomayer. The proper term is illegal alien. What did your buddies lose their documents on the way across the Mexican border. Lol. We have numerous ethnic groups in the US but just one culture. And we still have unions but that is fading fast. Did u read how much union leaders make. Talk about riping off workers. Christ I'm in the wrong business!
J. Medina
11:42 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
LLS.......too funny. And yeah I know how much they make, its well deserved too. Union leaders do the work that politicians should be doing. Standing up and fighting for working families. In fact, where do you think OSHA, overtime pay, Child Labor Laws, NLRB and a whole host of benefits that we now enjoy came from. Unions !!!! Your just another brain wached victim of the right wing GOP. Its ok. I understand. Lol.
J. Medina
11:46 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Listen there are over 50 million Latinos in the US so obviously they are not goin anywhere. So just learn from them, about them and keep an open mind and trust me you may like the flavor.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin
7:30 am on Friday, September 14, 2012
The ballot question is poorly worded and ignores the tax implications by voting yes. Someone will pay but the taxpayers are told by the freeloaders "Oh, wont' worry, it won't be that bad. We will be productive and contribute." That won't happen.
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