Letters to the editor

One group left out of financial aid bill

To the Editor:

Last week's article about the student aid bill was certainly a glimmer of hope for students struggling to pay for college. However, undocumented students cannot benefit from this bill. Many people immigrate to the U.S. as children, are educated here, and then face extreme economic hardship in college due to lack of access to funding, especially access to federal monies, such as those mentioned in the article. The result is an uncertain future marked by unnecessary tribulation.

There is currently another bill in the Senate called the DREAM Act that would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented students who have grown up in the U.S. It will be voted on again by Nov. 16.

Among other things, the Catholic Church calls for the respect of the human dignity and human rights of immigrants. Given our common mission to fashion a more just, humane and sustainable world, I encourage members of the Santa Clara community to contact your senators in support of our undocumented sisters and brothers. Take action: capwiz.com/jesuit/home

Matt Smith

Director of Social Justice Programs

Campus Ministry