Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr., (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) announced he voted for the New York State Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act (A.2597-A). In addition to creating a private scholarship fund (the DREAM Fund), this legislation would also allow children of immigrants to apply for state scholarships and the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) to help them pay for their higher education.

“Opportunity is what makes this country and this State so great. All students should have access to higher education, and the DREAM Act makes that a reality by increasing financial aid opportunities for immigrant students,” Assemblyman Thiele said. “These hardworking students should not be put at a disadvantage because of their immigrant status.”

The legislation requires undocumented immigrant students to satisfy certain conditions to be eligible for state tuition assistance and educational opportunity programs, including having attended high school in New York State for at least two years and having graduated or received a high school equivalency diploma in-state. Since 2002, undocumented immigrants have been paying in-state tuition rates at SUNY and CUNY colleges and universities. The DREAM Act goes a step further by increasing access for undocumented youth to a broad range of state educational assistance programs, including:

• Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP);
• Educational Opportunity Program (EOP);
• Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (C-STEP); and
• opportunity programs available at community colleges.

The passage of the DREAM Act would make New York one of six states – including Texas, New Mexico, Minnesota and California – to offer state financial assistance to children of undocumented immigrants.

“This legislation would give young, motivated immigrant students the opportunity to grow, learn and achieve their dreams.” Thiele said. “Anyone who has worked hard and met the requirements should be able to obtain the quality college education every hardworking student deserves, regardless of immigration status.”

In addition to increasing access to state aid, the DREAM Act sets up the DREAM Fund, an initiative that would raise private funds to provide scholarships for eligible college-bound children with at least one immigrant parent. The DREAM Act would also expand access to the New York State College Tuition Savings (529) Program through family tuition accounts. The family tuition accounts would be available to anyone who provides a valid taxpayer identification number. This is a significant help to families in saving for their children’s future over an extended period of time, noted Thiele.