On March 5, I had the privilege of participating in a State House hearing about the bill submitted by Providence Rep. Grace Diaz (H-5353) to let non-citizens pay in-state tuition

The testimony by Amanda Perreira, a 16-year-old student at Providence’s Classical High School, was very compelling. Amanda’s voice that day became that of hundreds of young individuals who have been waiting to obtain higher education, but cannot because of their immigration status. Her testimony showed that she is not just a statistic, but a human being.

I support H-5353 because I believe in the American dream. The American dream is about rewarding those who work hard. We should not deny young people who have worked hard to become model students all their lives, and are now seeking to enter college, the opportunity to improve their lives and become productive members of American society.

Young people who are denied an education will lose their ability to contribute to society, and this may cultivate a cycle of poverty among some of our brightest and most creative individuals. They don’t deserve the disrespect they are getting from those who feel they are criminals. Education should not be a privilege, it should be the expectation of everyone who dreams of having a bright future.

Undocumented children had no choice about coming to this country and have done nothing illegal. Since H-5353 requires students to seek lawful permanent residency, I strongly believe it would encourage responsible behavior by the students and provide an incentive for high-school graduation.

I also believe that letting students obtain post-secondary education contributes to economic development and saves money in the long run. Without the prospect of in-state tuition, higher education would be out of reach for most of these students. With more affordable tuition, college-going is increased, and student academic success leads to increased earnings, contributing to greater state tax revenues and reduced reliance on the state for health care, social services and corrections.

MARTA V. MARTINEZ

Warwick