Amnesties to undocumented students???

[nrswnabee]

I was having lunch one day when I came across this leaflet that calls for equal tuition fee rates among us citizens/permanent residents and undocumented students. At first, I thought, yeah, at last...but I realized, hey, I'm not illegal. I'm a legal non-immigrant f1 student...what about me?

I almost choked on my sandwich. Do international students like me, taking pains to comply with the requirements of my visa, qualify for any part of such favors? My visa imposes a full load despite exhorbitant tuition and fees and only part-time work that barely pays for my books (and I haven't started my nursing courses!). I keep my visa current, being almost paranoid that I don't invite the suspicion of USCIS. I also remember many decent non-immigrants on H1B, who have been using their talent for this country for years, dutifully paying their taxes, and patiently waiting for their queue on the unending list of immigrant petitions. Aren't they more deserving to any such kind of reliefs?

This move to give amnesties to illegal immigrants certainly screams the wrong message...that it's better to come to the US illegally....that it pays to break the law knowingly because "goodhearted" will always be there to "recognize my plight?"

Unless government extends EQUAL or BETTER amnesties to LEGAL non-immigrants, I find this act to favor illegal aliens grossly unfair!

[lawrence01]

I was having lunch one day when I came across this leaflet that calls for equal tuition fee rates among us citizens/permanent residents and undocumented students. At first, I thought, yeah, at last…but I realized, hey, I’m not illegal. I’m a legal non-immigrant f1 student…what about me?

I almost choked on my sandwich. Do international students like me, taking pains to comply with the requirements of my visa, qualify for any part of such favors? My visa imposes a full load despite exhorbitant tuition and fees and only part-time work that barely pays for my books (and I haven't started my nursing courses!). I keep my visa current, being almost paranoid that I don't invite the suspicion of USCIS. I also remember many decent non-immigrants on H1B, who have been using their talent for this country for years, dutifully paying their taxes, and patiently waiting for their queue on the unending list of immigrant petitions. Aren’t they more deserving to any such kind of reliefs?

This move to give amnesties to illegal immigrants certainly screams the wrong message…that it’s better to come to the US illegally….that it pays to break the law knowingly because “goodhearted” will always be there to “recognize my plight?”

Unless government extends EQUAL or BETTER amnesties to LEGAL non-immigrants, I find this act to favor illegal aliens grossly unfair!

It does send a wrong signal to others. That's why a new Immigration bill is on the works. It just got delayed because of the debate of whether to give temp. "guest worker" permits a.k.a. amnesty or not. A compromise bet. the two extremes was also forged but we have to wait for at least 2 weeks when the sessions resume after the easter holidays. The new "compromise" deal supposedly agreed initially but did not materialize can be seen in http://www.shusterman.com. I think it still sends a wrong signal but fair enough for me.

[nrswnabee]

It does send a wrong signal to others. That's why a new Immigration bill is on the works. It just got delayed because of the debate of whether to give temp. "guest worker" permits a.k.a. amnesty or not. A compromise bet. the two extremes was also forged but we have to wait for at least 2 weeks when the sessions resume after the easter holidays. The new "compromise" deal supposedly agreed initially but did not materialize can be seen in http://www.shusterman.com. I think it still sends a wrong signal but fair enough for me.

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hello, lawrence. how's everything? thanks for the link. i scanned through the draft section-by-section reform law but couldn't find anything for people on h1b (even for f1 students like me). i saw a bunch of provisions towards illegal aliens' amnesty. that part made me feel like i should've taken the illegal route coming to this land. it looks so much easier to secure a legal residency that way. also, it made me feel like i'm being punished for abiding by the law. (i can imagine other people who've been here 10 years or so on legal non-immigrant status, switching from every non-immigrant category.) if there are ways to give permanent residency to undocumented aliens, how much more will it be easier to do AT LEAST the same thing to those who've properly declared themselves?

i feel that many legitimate non-immigrants have been relegated to the background because of this overly emotional focus on undocumented cases. granting illegal aliens reliefs WITHOUT considering the legitimate ones who've been equally hardworking and loyal to this country is just NOT right...how better else can i put it...if illegal aliens have suffered enough, i don't see a vastly different situation with those who chose the legal path. it could even be worse for them because they are doing a balancing act between the law and their future! others have simply chosen to pursue their dreams, regardless of what the law imposes.... how convenient.

it just occured to me that maybe, upholding what is right,fair or just isn't part of this reform effort. i'm not sure but if this reform law is being sold as a compassionate or humane act, well, i'm not buying it.