Maryland Passes DREAM ACT Legislation In State Senate

Submitted by Kristian Ramos on 3/16/11

Maryland has passed a state version of the DREAM Act, joining states like California in moving forward on giving children of immigrants brought to the country when they were young an opportunity to gain in state tuition for college.

The Washington Post has two great stories up giving all the details of this new development, Todd Eberly details what the bill does HERE:

The Maryland Senate has approved, by a 27-20 vote, legislation that would grant in-state tuition to undocumented students at public universities and community colleges. The bill would place significant restrictions on undocumented students before qualifying for in-state tuition.

The restrictions are as follows, applicants must:

  1. Graduate from a Maryland high school and then attend a community college within the high school’s jurisdiction.
  2. Prove that taxes were paid by the student, parent or legal guardian for three years before entering college.
  3. Complete an associate’s degree, or 60 credits, from a community college before they can qualify for in-state tuition at a four-year Maryland university.
  4. Show proof of paid state income taxes while attending community college.
  5. Sign an affidavit stating they will apply for legal residency when they are eligible.

Ann E. Marimow gives an account of how the legislation moved forward:

After a lengthy and emotional debate, the Senate voted 27 to 20 to approve the measure, shifting one of the legislative session’s most high-profile and controversial immigration bills to the House of Delegates. Sen. Victor R. Ramirez (D-Prince George’s), the lead sponsor, spoke to dozens of students seated in the gallery who would benefit from the measure, and told his story of arriving legally in the United States from El Salvador at age 5.

State Senator Victor R. Ramirez spoke of the importance of focusing on the important educational message this legislation sends to students as opposed to the immigration aspects of the bill:

“This is about education; it’s not about immigration,” he said. “What do we do with the talent and the intellect of the children of undocumented immigrants who are already living here? These children didn’t make the decision to come to Maryland. Their parents did.”

Let's hope other states follow this lead and work to pass similar legislation in their respective states.