Protection of Educational Access for Undocumented Aliens
AS-2158-93/AA - May 6-7,1993
ATTACHMENT TO AS-2158-93/AA
WHEREAS, There is proposed legislation aimed at persecuting one of the most
fragile populations, undocumented schoolchildren, rather than at investing in the
future of the state's own best interests by providing for their education; and
WHEREAS, While parents may take several years to have their case processed
through an often bewildering set of hearings and bureaucratic procedures, dependent
children would be marginalized and their eventual inclusion in the educational system
would be accompanied by the unwarranted personal and social cost of their being out
of step with other categories of students their own age; and
WHEREAS, The United States has historically welcomed people from around the
world who suffer persecution for their political beliefs, for their personal dreams,
and for their intellectual nonconformism; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. Supreme Court decided in 1982 (Plyer v. Doe) that such laws
are unconstitutional and not in the public interest, declaring that by "denying
[undocumented children] a basic education, we deny them the ability to live within
the structure of our civic institutions, and foreclose any realistic possibility that
they will contribute in even the smallest way to the progress of the nation;" and
WHEREAS, It is inappropriate for administrators and instructors in institutions
at any level to be de facto agents of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, a
role that would be forced upon them by some of the currently proposed legislation;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Academic Senate of the California State University oppose
any legislation that would deny education to undocumented aliens solely on the basis
of their undocumented status and without reference to the length of time that such
persons have spent in California or to their intentions to remain in the state; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the Academic Senate CSU urge the Chancellor and the Board of
Trustees to oppose any legislation that would deny educational access at all levels
to undocumented aliens solely on the basis of their undocumented status and without
reference to the length of time that such persons have spent in California or to
their intentions to remain in the state; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Academic Senate CSU urge the State Legislature to refrain
from adopting any legislation that would deny educational access to undocumented
aliens solely on the basis of their undocumented status and without reference to the
length of time that such persons have spent in California or to their intentions to
remain in the state.
APPROVED - May 7, 1993 |
