A Latina's Thoughts on the California State Dream Act

I would like to preface that my last name is Martinez. I grew up in a mixed-race family, my mother Irish and my father Latino. My father was born in Michigan and both his parents were born in America. He grew up in Crystal City, Texas, where he only spoke Spanish until he was in the fourth grade. His mom then moved them to California, where he learned to speak English.

Politically we are a very mixed family. My mother grew up and spent most of her years in Santa Cruz, Calif., where she was raised very liberal. . My younger bother is a libertarian and I am a moderate Republican.

As soon as people hear I am a Latina Republican and that I was born and raised in Santa Cruz they get confused. It can be a little hard to wrap your head around. Though I am a fiscal conservative, I admit, I can be liberal. Gay marriage? Go for it! Abortion? It’s your choice not the government's. Gays in the armed forces? If you want to protect the country I love, then hell yes! The California State Dream Act? No way.

That is right…. You heard me correctly. As of three days ago , California is looking like it will create a bridge with the illegal immigrant population mostly from Mexico while other states, like Arizona, seek to strictly enforce laws against illegal immigration.

The California Dream Act, not be confused with the federal Dream Act, requires California State Universities and Community Colleges to let illegal immigrants apply for and participate in state-administered student aid programs. My problem with this is that it rewards bad behavior by helping the people that come into our country illegally. It sends the message that one can illegally come here without any real consequences.

With that, it will enlarge the pool of those having to compete for state financial aid, letting legal students struggle and compete with illegals in an already cash-strapped education system. When it comes to it, Californians should come first. It has been proven that people agree with this comment. As many of you know, people applying to California universities and colleges from a different state have to pay out of state tuition. It proves that they believe that residents of California should have the advantage in the system.

I understand people think that everyone should have a chance, and I agree with that completely. However, if you want to have the benefits of being an American, you need to follow the rules. Coming into this country illegally means you do not deserve financial aid for our universities.

I am a Latina and I stand by these statements.