Melissa Bailey Photo
On the heels of an ambitious city program to help New Haven kids afford college, Democratic politicians vowed to even the playing field for undocumented students like Lorella Praeli.
Praeli (pictured) a 22-year-old originally from Peru, came “out of the shadows” for the first time Thursday to announce that she is living in the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant. She said she was lucky enough to land a full ride to Quinnipiac University through a private scholarship. Otherwise, she would have had to pay three times the rate of in-state tuition at an in-state college or university.
At a press event at Southern Connecticut State University, members of New Haven’s state legislative delegation pledged to help students like Praeli by passing a bill next session that would grant in-state tuition to all Connecticut residents who graduate from state high schools, regardless of immigration status. State Sen. Martin Looney, state Rep.-elect Roland Lemar, and state Reps. Gary Holder-Winfield and Juan Candelaria all attended the event in support of the legislation.
In the current system, undocumented immigrant students have to pay out-of-state tuition rates that are three times higher than in-state rates at public Connecticut universities and colleges. For example, most of Praeli’s friends ended up at the University of Connecticut, where in-state tuition is $8,000. Praeli would have had to pay $24,500.
Eliminating that disparity is key to Mayor John DeStefano’s new initiative called the New Haven Promise. Funded by Yale University and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, the program will grant up to 100 percent scholarships to in-state colleges and universities to New Haven public school students who keep up good grades and discipline records. On top of the financial incentive, a brigade of volunteers is being dispatched to knock on doors and help students get ready for college.
Eleven states have passed laws granting in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants who can prove residency, according to Looney. The legislature approved a bill in 2007, but it was vetoed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell. He said it was “pointless” to try again while Rell was still in office.
Now, with the first Democrat elect to the governor’s seat in 24 years, the prospects have changed.
Gov.-elect Dan Malloy “would sign a bill that grants in-state tuition to any graduate from a Connecticut high school living in the state,” said his spokeswoman, Colleen Flanagan.
DeStefano and Looney
DeStefano said the bill is key for helping the city achieve its goals of reducing violence and creating wealth.
“In order to grow, our definition of community membership needs to be broad and powerful,” DeStefano said.
America’s “most aggressive and vibrant periods of economic growth has been during periods of vibrant immigration into our nation and into our city.” Immigrants “disproportionately are entrepreneurial. They create markets,” and improve the city’s economy, he said.
DeStefano said of the roughly 5,000 high school students in the New Haven public school district, the number of undocumented immigrants are “in the hundreds.”
He said the current system, where these students are charged three times their U.S. citizen peers for public colleges, ends up driving students away from the public university system toward private colleges. That’s because undocumented immigrants don’t qualify for federal grants, so it’s hard for them to find scholarships except at private institutions.
Looney, who was just reelected as state Senate majority leader, noted that he himself is the son of Irish immigrants. His dad worked at Winchester Repeating Arms; his mom raised kids then worked as a cook for the St. Rose of Lima parish. He said in making a renewed push for the state version of the DREAM Act, lawmakers would work from the 2007 bill, which required students to live in Connecticut and have attended Connecticut high school from ninth to 12th grades.
He said he did not know the fiscal impact on the state. Granting a discounted tuition to Connecticut residents would cost the state university system some money, he acknowledged, but he said “it’s an investment, rather than a cost.” One 2007 fiscal note predicted the bill would have lost tuition for UConn, and raised tuition for other state universities because of increased enrollment.
In a Q and A session, Channel 8’s Mark Davis asked what would stop immigrants from scoring a free education, then returning home to their native countries.
Praeli shared her immigration story and argued why that would not be the case. She said she originally came to the States for medical treatment for her right leg, which is amputated above the knee. Her family originally came to the States on a tourist visa, then chose to overstay it about 11 years ago and settle down in New Milford. She was 11 years old at the time.
Praeli speaks perfect English. She said grew up America and intends to stay here. Her younger sister speaks better English than Spanish and probably doesn’t even know what Peru looks like, she said. Most immigrants who relocate to the U.S. come here to build a better life and intend to stick around, she argued.
For her part, Praeli hopes to get a law degree or a PhD in sociology. Right now, she has an internship in immigration law. She has also become the organizer of a new group, Connecticut Students for a DREAM, that is organizing college students across the state to help push for statewide and federal legislation on this issue.
Members of Congress have been pushing for a decade to create a federal DREAM Act, that would remove obstacles for undocumented immigrant children who were brought to the U.S. by their parents when they were under the age of 16. The act would remove a law prohibiting them from qualifying for in-state tuition benefits, and would give them a pathway to citizenship after completing college or two years of military service. (DREAM stands for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors.)
The DREAM Act fell four votes short of getting attached to a U.S. Senate defense bill earlier this year; President Obama said this week he wants to get it passed during Congress’ lame-duck session.
Praeli said this time, she intends to hold lawmakers accountable for their commitments.
“I don’t want to be disappointed again.”