Sixteen Undocumented Korean American UCSD Applicants Finally Win In-State Tuition

AB540 Victory Press Conference 9-20-07 (1) [Photo News] KRC Holds Press Conference on "Right to Public Education"
(translation from Korean article)

Korea Daily 9-21-07 A5
Reporter Han Jeon

KRC & NAKASEC held a joint press conference and reaffirmed their commitment to defend tuition exemptions of undocumented students. From left, Morna Ha, NAKASEC Youth Director, Green Son, KRC Intern, Linton Joaquin, NILC.

------------------

Sixteen Undocumented Korean American UCSD Applicants Finally Win In-State Tuition: KRC, LAFLA and NILC help them save $17,000 in fees
(translation from Korean article)

Korea Daily 9-21-07 A1
Reporter Su Yeon Oh

Sixteen Korean American students who had been admitted to UCSD but had been denied in-state tuition for their undocumented status in June will be able to enroll in classes. (Related Article: Korea Daily 7-25-07 A1)

KRC & NAKASEC held a joint press conference and announced that all 16 students who had not been able to pay in-state tuition because of their undocumented status had now received the exemption and enrolled to college.

In particular, it was shown that 300 undocumented status of other ethnic groups, such as latinos, who had similarly been refused in-state tuition, had also received assistance and enrolled to college.

The State of California passed the AB 540, a state law, and had been allowing undocumented students who had atended a California high school for 3 years and then graduated to pay tuition normally allowed to California residents when enrolling in a UC or Cal State public university or a 2-year community college.

But UCSD interpreted this state law to pertain only to those who had illegally entered the country, and had been denying exemptions to students who had become illegal out of visa expirations. There is an average difference of $17,000 between in-state and out of state tuition in UC campuses.

Morna Ha, NAKASEC Coordinator, who had been negotiating with the school to solve this case, said "these students had already settled in for UCSD, and were only notified of their "tuition problem" after sending in their confirmation. They could not even try switching to another school. and added "I'm particularly happy that students who were on the brink of giving up on college because of economic difficulties, will be able to attend college and study."

KRC is showing that after some junior and high schools, some suburban community colleges such as Cypress and Golden, and Ventura are denying the admissions of approximately 10 Korean American students.

The school is citing federal law that prohibits tourist visa (B-1) holders from receiving education unless they switch to a student visa (F-1); the number of affected undocumented students are expected to increase.

KRC said "we are in constant communication with the schools but they are going as far as denying admissions to those undocumented students who once held a tourist visa; we look forward to seeing more victims".

[delicious]ab540+english[/delicious]