Will Perez discusses his new book We ARE Americans.mp4

Using case studies and the most recent scientific research, CGU Professor William Perez makes a strong case for the passage of the DREAM Act—a federal law which would allow undocumented students the opportunity to attend college and earn their legal residency—in his new book, We ARE Americans: Undocumented Students Pursuing the American Dream.

The book (Stylus Publishing) was released this week, and has been selected as Pick of the Week by Publishers Weekly.

In Perez opinion, achieving undocumented high school graduates in the United States who want to pursue a college education are prevented from following their dream which is damaging to them and to the country as a whole.

In the book, Perez argues there are many benefits to passing the DREAM Act. He personally interviewed 100 students and writes about the histories of 16 of them—all who underwent difficulties of continuing their education after high school. Those that were able to go to college (Perez says only about 10% of undocumented high school graduates are able to do that) have had great successes. He also tells the stories of people who lived most of their schooling years being undocumented, but were able to become American citizens. In the book, they reflect on how their lives changed after becoming legalized, and how their contributions to American society increased.

The book makes a strong argument about how we can magnify the contributions these students can make if we provide a path to legalization, Perez said.

About 3.2 million children and young adults under 24 years of age are undocumented. Brought by their parents to the US as minors—many before they had reached their teens—they account for about one-sixth of the total undocumented population. Illegal through no fault of their own, some 65,000 undocumented students graduate from the nation's high schools each year. They cannot get a legal job, and face enormous barriers trying to enter college to better themselves—and yet America is the only country they know and, for many, English is the only language they speak.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• William Perez
• Claremont Graduate University
• DREAM Act
• Undocumented Students
• Higher Education