Editorial: FIU makes right decision for immigrants

Editorial Board/FIUSM Staff

Thank you, FIU.

The city where so many immigrants reside and attend college is finally granting those students a break.

Not only have these students been burdened with difficulties in obtaining jobs and driver’s licenses, but they have paid out-of-state tuition that is three times as high as the in-state cost, even if they have resided in Florida their whole lives.

The University will offer a tuition waiver for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals that will lift the hefty cost for these students, offering a more affordable education to a large population of immigrant students that may not have been able to put themselves through school previously.

This policy may rub people the wrong way, but we look at it as an opportunity — a prospect that is part of the reason why so many people risk their lives to come to the United States.

The waiver will grant these students the chance to further their education and receive something they would have never had in their home country.

Five thousand undocumented immigrants graduate from Florida high schools each year, yet only five percent of these students enroll in college. The burden of out-of-state tuition has been a discouraging factor for students. With a predominant Hispanic and multicultural student population, it only seems fit for FIU to grant such a waiver.

This opportunity also gives The Beacon a good sense of change about our university.

Not only will this benefit our own university students, it will also set a precedent for colleges and universities nationally. It is encouraging to hear our president, provost and professors advocating for not only our students right here at home, but across Florida and the country.

We are proud to see our university resume this role model position. We only hope more universities consider tuition waivers for immigrant students.

Public education is intended to be just that: public. By doing this, FIU demonstrates its willingness to help keep education accessible at a relatively low cost to these students.

And granting this break to these students is money that will only come back two fold into the economy and the community. An estimate shows that these students will earn an extra $1 million in their lifetime, contributing tens of thousands of dollars in federal and state taxes.

This waiver will attract even more bright students to the university, producing successful individuals that will benefit society.

We hope more universities follow in our footsteps, widening the opportunity for young thinkers and DREAMers to obtain an education.

 

opinion@fiusm.com

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