“It’s Good For America If Young Undocumented Immigrants Go To College And Become Citizens”

Today, NPR’s On Point posted its interview with former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, in which he was asked about a bill he supported in 2005 that would have provided undocumented immigrants who met certain requirements with state-sponsored scholarships.

In response, Huckabee stood by his position and perhaps, albeit unintentionally, made a strong case for why Congress should move to approve the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which would grant young, undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. by their parents and have lived in the U.S. for most of their lives with a path to legalization. In his interview, Huckabee argued that denying bright, young undocumented immigrants access to higher education doesn’t just wrongfully punish children, it’s also bad for taxpayers and America as a whole:

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Yesterday, President Obama delivered a speech on immigration reform that could have several implications for young people.
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As a vote on social studies curriculum changes nears, Texas’ State Board of Education is likely to get an earful this week on a historical and cultural grab bag that includes the Founding Fathers, the role of Hispanic leaders and even Christmas.

On Friday, 94 people had signed up to speak at a public hearing on proposed changes to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills curriculum standards for social studies, which is set for Wednesday. Speaker sign-ups continue today until 5 pm.

The hearing follows about six months of public flash points — including historical figures like Cesar Chavez, Thurgood Marshall and Albert Einstein, as well as the Christmas holiday — over what should be included in a 10-year update of the curriculum.

Read the rest at the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram.

The Connecticut Department of Higher Education has reported that the number of minority students (including Latinos) graduating from colleges and universities in the state has increased significantly since 2008.

Please read more at: The Hartford Courant

Gilbert Viveros at the Latin Alternative Music Conference in NYC. Congrats Gilbert!

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Re “No Size Fits All” (column, July 17):

David Brooks is right about the crucial role of community colleges and the importance of the Obama administration’s investment, linked to greater accountability for outcomes.

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Office of Communications & Outreach, Press Office
400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202

FOR RELEASE: July 10, 2009
CONTACT: John White, Press Secretary
(202) 401-1576 or john.white@ed.gov

Juan Sepúlveda, Director, White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans
(202) 412-4839 or juan.sepulveda@ed.gov

WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE ON EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE FOR
HISPANIC AMERICANS BEGINS A SERIES OF “COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS”

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that Juan Sepulveda, Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, is beginning a series of community conversations next week in Texas. Sepulveda has contacted Hispanic communities nationwide and will continue to do so, as he begins this series with trips to several states and Puerto Rico between July and the end of September.

The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans was created by Executive Order on September 24, 1990 to improve Federal efforts to promote quality education for Hispanic Americans. Sepulveda is visiting Hispanic communities to gain input prior to updating the Executive Order later this year.

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