By Gregory Gaussa, On-line Forty-Niner
May 15, 1997
It has sparked debate, ignited controversy and triggered emotions, but all the fuss about Proposition 187 has meant little to Cal State Long Beach, officials said.
They say that Proposition 187, which cuts off most aid to illegal immigrants, basically is an after-thought to an earlier court ruling.
The ruling, called the Bradford decision, had a greater impact on illegal immigrants who were attending CSULB. The Bradford decision, a 1990 state appellate ruling, required University of California schools and California community colleges to charge illegal immigrants out-of-state college fees.
Proposition 187 - and the legal fight that came with it after approximately 60 percent of the state's voters decided to pass it - was simply a small after-shock, officials said.
"It (the Bradford decision) basically eliminated students who couldn't document their status (as U.S. residents)," said Alan Nishio, associate vice president of student services on campus. "[Proposition] 187 just re-enforced it here. It really hasn't had a direct impact. Just an indirect impact."
Nishio said about 100 students were affected in his department.
Naomi Uyeda, the acting director of CSULB's Educational Opportunity Program, said Proposition 187 caused only about 20 students to leave her program, a small amount in the big picture.
"With the population of our school," Uyeda said, "it didn't really impact us. But I am certainly sympathetic to those who couldn't use our services. I'm sorry to see that we couldn't help."
Despite what officials say about the impact Proposition 187 had at CSULB, the same officials also cannot hide their personal opinions about this touchy subject.
Nishio called it a disappointment.
Uyeda called it a missed opportunity.
Karen Alvarado, CSULB's affirmative action director, called it a step toward an unfair society.
"It is one more step to chipping away at a fair society," Alvarado said, adding that Proposition 187 had little impact in her program. "It is eating away at people's opportunity to do well."
And their views have been echoed around Southern California.
A CSULB minority group staged a rally on campus when Proposition 187 was on voters' minds. San Fernando Valley High School students staged walkouts and demonstrations and things got downright nasty at Cal State Northridge.
Vladimir Cerna, a respected Cal State Northridge student leader, quickly became a recipient of hate mail and nasty phone calls from Proposition 187 supporters after admitting he was an illegal immigrant in October 1994.
Cerna, from El Salvador, has since attained legal residency.
In November 1994, after Proposition 187 passed on the ballot, Latino truck drivers in Los Angeles and Long Beach displayed their anger by refusing to work and although no violence was reported, their message was clear.
Despite all the hoopla surrounding Proposition 187, it apparently did not persuade California's Latino residents to vote.
Approximately 25 percent of California's population is Latino. But in the 1994 election, when Proposition 187 was on the ballot, only eight percent of the voters were Latino - including a mere 5 percent from Orange County.
Illegal immigrants - there are less than 1,000 among 320,000 CSU students - are forced to pay out-of-state tuition, despite living in California, because of a Jan. 19, 1995, ruling by a Los Angeles appellate court.
A 1982 Supreme Court case, which said it was unconstitutional to deny illegal immigrants public education, only covered it through the high school level.
It means they have to pay about $8,000 annually, instead of the $1,585 charged to California residents at the 21 Cal State campuses.
Then, they still will be ignored for state-funded college programs, such as CSULB's Equal Opportunity Program. Students who initially met the program's guidelines - being from a low-income family and a first-generation college student - no longer receive help.
Proposition 187 essentially bans illegal immigrants from receiving a public education, obtaining non-emergency health care and social welfare, and requires officials to report suspected illegal immigrants to authorities.
"Immigrants feel like they aren't as welcome on campus," Nishio said. "It is unfortunate we have this rule. Education would give them (illegal immigrants) a chance to become more productive and get jobs to help society. I'm disappointed."
Said Alvarado: "I found it appalling when it was put forward, and appalling now."