U. students unhappy with California's Proposition 187

Frustrated at being so far from home and unable to protest with family and friends, several University students from California are enraged at the newly passed Proposition 187. The proposition renders illegal aliens ineligible for public school education, social services and health care services excluding emergency care. As a result of the proposition, any school district, health care facility or law enforcement agency suspecting that a child or parent immigrated illegally must report the person to the Immigration and Naturalization Services or other government offices. Taking such benefits away from illegal aliens, according to the California Ballot Pamphlet, will save state and local governments approximately $200 million. Instituting the proposition could cost the governments more than $100 million in the first year. College junior Diana Flores, however, says the proposition does not make fiscal sense. According to Flores, Philadelphia's Spanish TV station reported this week that for every dollar spent to provide aliens with the services the government will spend $154 to enact the proposition. The aspects of the proposition regarding education are currently under dispute in Los Angeles's U.S. District Court, since the Supreme Court has ruled that the federal constitution guarantees all children a public education. Supporters of the proposition say it will help improve California's economy, which is still recovering from the recession. But Wharton senior Sam Rivera, the president of El Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, says the reasons behind Prop. 187 aren't so simple. "It's something that the politicians have found for self-serving economic reasons," Rivera said. "The illegal immigrants are used as scapegoats and targets to further their political campaigns. They're attacking a group without representation. There's a definite element of racism." Hoping to educate students about Prop. 187, Rivera says MeChA will pass out fliers explaining the decision with politicians' addresses so that students can write letters. Many California residents resent illegal immigrants, arguing that they take away jobs American citizens deserve. But College sophomore Emmanuel Mejia says that people should not feel threatened by the illegal immigrants. "They came here because they believed they could get a better life," Mejia said. "They're not here to exploit anyone. The only people being exploited are the immigrants who are hired for such low wages." Regardless of the law, Rivera says he wouldn't turn anyone in to the INS. "This summer, people would come through the canyons and walk through my neighborhood," said Rivera, who resides in San Diego. "If I was watering the lawn, they would ask for a drink and I would give it to them. "We're the same people. These are people I feel for," Rivera said. While Wharton senior Darryl Myrose says he sympathizes with the illegal immigrants, he does not believe that they deserve the benefits Prop. 187 will take away. "If you're not a citizen, then you should have to pay for your education and health care," Myrose said. "I don't think it should be put on the burden of the taxpayers. "The California economy has been in shambles and that would be an extra burden," he added. "I feel bad for them, but you have to draw the line somewhere." Sometimes, illegal immigrants are more than just an economic burden, says College junior Rebecca Hutchinson. "My concern is for the students in the public schools whose parents pay taxes," Hutchinson said. "If you have just five non-English speaking students, then they take up almost all of the teacher's time."