Federal laws say undocumented kids cannot be denied enrollment in public schools, and that they have the right to taxpayer-funded education in the United States just like US citizens and those who live and work in the country legally.
With the influx of thousands of unaccompanied minors from Central America, who entered the borders illegally, public schools now face the burden and challenge providing quality education and social services to more students with recession-limited resources coming from the federal budget and state.
What do Fil-Ams think about this predicament?
A big majority—79 percent—of the viewers who voted on the daily online poll of The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast Balitang America say it is unfair for undocumented children to be given taxpayer funded public education in America.
These kababayans contend that the limited budget that goes to education during these tough economic times should go instead to kids of US citizens and those who live and work in the country with all the required immigration documents.
After all, they contend, these people are the ones who pay taxes that fund all the social services—why should their kids suffer because they have to share dwindling resources with kids of those who break immigration laws and those who crossed the borders illegally?
Only two out of 10 who voted in the poll say undocumented kids should be accorded taxpayer funded education, citing humanitarian reasons. They argue further that when these kids get educated, they would and could become productive members of American society.
The Obama Administration has been working to expedite the deportation of unaccompanied kids who crossed the border illegally. Those who support this move say this would make the governments of the countries where these kids come from discourage their citizens from entering the United States illegally, thereby helping solve the worsening border crisis.
Immigrant advocates, however, oppose this move. They counter-argue that this expedited removal would deny the kids the due process they deserve, and would deny those children who really need help, the chance to be protected and cared for in America.
A majority of Balitang America viewers who voted—59 percent agree that due process may indeed be compromised. Forty-one percent contend that more than humanitarian reasons, the rule of law should be enforced to solve America’s border crisis.
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
