The California Supreme Court recently validated the use of in-state tuition for undocumented students at the state’s public universities and colleges. The ruling applies only to undocumented students who graduated from high school in California. It is a partial but important victory against the wave of anti-immigrant bigotry in the United States.
 Pedro Ramirez, CSU Fresno student body president |
The court’s decision will allow thousands of undocumented students access to higher education. This victory, however, comes at a time when the UC and CSU systems are hiking tuition rates by 8 percent and 15 percent, respectively.
CSU Fresno student body President Pedro Ramirez has been in the spotlight recently after it was revealed that he is undocumented. He is one of tens of thousands of undocumented students attending public universities and colleges. Many people have expressed support for Ramirez, while some reactionary anti-immigrant individuals and groups are calling for his resignation as student body president.
“In a way, I’m relieved,” said Ramirez, a 22-year-old political science major from Tulare, Calif. “I don’t want to be a liability or cost the school donations. I never really thought this was going to happen. But now that it’s out there, I finally feel ready to say ‘Yes, it’s me. I’m one of the thousands.’” (Los Angeles Times, Nov. 18)
Undocumented students cannot receive federal financial aid. Tens of thousands of students are forced to get multiple jobs to pay for rising college tuition costs or are pushed out of school entirely.
Education is a basic human right. Students, revolutionaries and progressives must continue to raise the demand for free education at all levels for all people.
