Immigration
bill’s impact unknown CSULB
By Mario Burciaga
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer
If passed into law, H.R. 4437, a bill cracking down on illegal immigrants will
not only affect immigrants across the United States, but also the Cal State University
system including Cal State Long Beach.
After being passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, the Sensenbrenner Bill,
formally known as H.R. 4437, now lies on the lap of the U.S. Senate. HR 4437
declares it a felony to be in the United States illegally, calls for a wall to
be built on the U.S.-Mexican border, grants state and local law enforcement “inherit
authority” to enforce immigration laws and criminalizes organizations and
individuals assisting undocumented immigrants, according to the Immigrant Legal
Resource Center Web site.
Pending the passing of H.R. 4437 and its interpretation by the CSU system, CSULB
could be at the cradle of a bill that imposes criminal penalties for any assistance
of undocumented immigrants.
The purpose of H.R. 4437 is to crack down on illegal immigrants and, despite
the difference between undocumented students and undocumented non-students, it
is unknown how H.R. 4437 will affect CSULB.
“
It would be really horrible if the [Sensenbrenner] bill was passed,” said
Assistant Director of Admissions Angela Williams on the possible impact H.R.
4437 would have on undocumented students at CSULB. “It would really limit
a lot of students from getting an education.”
Williams said there are no current restrictions prohibiting undocumented students
from applying or attending CSULB simply because the question of legal residency
is not a determining factor in admission to CSULB, leaving the door open for
all academically qualified students.
Whether instate, out of state, international or undocumented, all CSULB applicants
have the same admissions requirements and procedures, Williams said.
The admissions requirements include the CSU minimum subject requirements and
the CSU minimum eligibility index, but since CSULB is impacted, there is a third
step requiring applicants outside a 12 mile radius from campus to have higher
academic scores.
Williams said although undocumented students have no restrictions in attending
CSULB, they are not qualified to receive financial aid because of they do not
have a social security number.
The only way undocumented students can receive financial aid is by meeting the
requirements guided by AB 540—a financial aid application for undocumented
students, Williams said.
Assistant Vice Chancellor of Public Affairs Claudia Keith said she could not
speculate on how HR 4437 can possibly impact CSULB.
“
Sometimes federal laws intersect with state laws but until the [Sensenbrenner]
Bill is passed, its impact on the CSU system is unknown,” Keith said.
The passing of HR 4437 by Congress has not only caused uproar in the immigrant
community, but throughout the United States, staging protests involving millions
of individuals across the nation.
CSULB student Minerva Gomez took part in the Los Angeles Coalition’s mass
protest March 25, involving over one million protestors mobilizing against the
passage of HR 4437.
Gomez is a coordinator for the Orange County DREAM Team Coalition, an organization
that supports and advocates for the rights of undocumented students of all nationalities.
Gomez said she will not resign her position with the DREAM Team Coalition or
stop advocating for undocumented students even if HR 4437 is passed.
“
The Sensenbrenner bill is not a good thing because what it’s composed of
is unrealistic,” Gomez said.”“People have to understand that
this bill is going to punish everyone.”
The Senate is expected to begin debate on HR 4437 March 27.
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