November 28, 2011 | 8:50 AM | By

Dream Act Opponents Include Documented Immigrants

A debate rages on in neighboring Maryland over the Dream Act which, if passed, would allow undocumented immigrant students to qualify for in-state college tuition. Some documented immigrants have come out against the measure, although they represent a minority of the state’s immigrants who are mostly Hispanic and come from mixed-legal status families, The Washington Post reports.


“Everyone wants to get an education, but you can’t just come to this country illegally and think everything is free. You have to be patient and legalize yourself,” said Josephine Beyam, 33, a nursing student. She arrived from the Philippines in 2008 as a full-fledged resident after waiting at home for four years, apart from her American husband, as the law required. Since enrolling, she said, she has been paying off her student loans every month.

“We have been through thick and thin,” Beyam said of her reunited family. “This country is a blessing, and the government is very generous. If you are not born here, you have to start from the beginning, but I accept that, because you can still pursue your dreams.”

Read more at: www.washingtonpost.com