Education is always going to be one of the most important necessities in America. Being educated determines most of the American peoples' future. In order to attain a career, one must be educated. In order to attain a degree, one must be educated. In most cases, to succeed, one must be educated. People of importance -- including politicians, leaders of America, and government officials -- have created and continue to create many opportunities for the growing children of America to have the chance to be educated. However, undocumented students are excluded from these opportunities. Because of the high unemployment rate that is causing job opportunities to lessen, there is a demand for employees that have obtained an exceptional degree and amount of education. Those who do not fall in this category will simply be looked past while others will be given ample opportunities to obtain a career. Primarily, public schools exist all over America; financial aid availability, and new and different scholarships are offered every day. But, so many people have been told that this is in fact not true, that education is not equal for everyone. Undocumented students experience this every day when they are trying to pursue their dream for a higher education. According to the PBS News Desk, student and Mexican citizen, Cynthia Cruz, has lived in New Jersey for the majority of her life. In hopes to achieve a higher education and a degree in public policy, Cruz attended community college and then went on to attend Rutgers University in New Jersey. Unfortunately, Cruz could not complete her education at Rutgers University simply because she could not afford the high cost of out-of-state tuition she was being forced to pay even as someone who has lived in New Jersey for the majority of her life (Desk). Cynthia Cruz is just one of the millions of undocumented students who face this extreme hardship in their lives when trying to pursue a higher education. Undocumented schoolchildren who were brought to the United States by their parents prior to the start of their kindergarten education should be able to qualify for financial aid or instate tuition when they are trying to pursue a higher college or university education.

A plethora of undocumented students have not been able to afford the out-of-state tuition that they have been forced to pay. However, there are several states that do give undocumented students a chance to pay instate tuition if they have lived in the state for the majority of their lives. Many students, not undocumented but American citizens, who attend out-of-state schools do not agree with this opportunity for undocumented students, since they, as America citizens, have to pay the substantially higher cost of out-of-state tuition in order to attend a school out of their home state. They believe is unfair to them and that they are being excluded because they are citizens. Although their argument has value, tuition equity has been discussed to be not only being beneficial for undocumented students, but beneficial for the economy as well. American citizens are provided with many opportunities for financial aid for their college education. In an interview, in Oregon, Di Saunders, a spokesperson for the Oregon University Systems, states that she does in fact "see a positive fiscal impact" (Tweddell n.p.) coming from this law. The more undocumented students that are able to attend college in result of the tuition equity law, the more positive economic impact America will see. Saunders touches base on the fact that if the Latinos and other undocumented students are not highly educated, then the state will suffer " ... because its workforce cannot compete" (Tweddell n.p.). Having a tuition equity law will only enhance the economy because the raised number of students paying for the school's education will result in more revenue for the state itself. Also, there will be more job competition with more educated students (Educators for Fair Education 2009). Tuition equity can benefit many other states like it will benefit Oregon. The director of multicultural affairs for Southern Oregon University's student government, Jazmin Roque gives her opinion that "it can only get better from here on for students and young people in Oregon" (Tweddell n.p.) It will continue to get better in several ways for Oregon and eventually, the United States. The passing of the tuition equity law gives the undocumented students the opportunity to complete an education and eventually, pursue a career.

Many out-of state students argue that they are being excluded because they want to attend out-of-state schools for the price of in-state tuition. Oregon state representative, Sal Esquivel argues, "This legislation is a direct discrimination against United States citizens" (Tweddell n.p.). Being a United States citizen myself and currently attending an out-of-state university, I understand Esquivel's argument. However, I argue that there are hundreds of scholarships and opportunities for financial aid offered to United States citizens; therefore, we are not being excluded. The ones who are actually being excluded are the undocumented students. Undocumented students are not eligible for financial aid as we, being American citizens, are (Financial Aid 2013). Most will not be able to attend college to obtain a higher education at all if they are not offered in-state tuition. American citizens are able to apply for financial aid if they desire to attend an out-of-state school and if not they have the chance to get the same valuable education from an instate school as they would get from an out-of-state one. Living in states that have yet to pass the tuition equity law, undocumented students are sadly out of luck; their opportunity to obtain a higher education has been simply taken away from them. In contrast to undocumented students, because of instate tuition and their eligibility for financial aid and scholarships; American citizens will always have the opportunity for education (Chappell 2009). Most undocumented students were far too young to even give consent when their parents brought them to the United States, they should not be blamed for the actions of their parents. These students are uneducated, without a job, and doing nothing to benefit our economy without tuition equity. 

The 1997 report of The New Americans by the National Research Council explains that education lowers the amount of spending on healthcare, welfare and law enforcement, while raising tax revenues. By acquiring a college degree and education, undocumented students are benefiting the government by saving it money (National Research Council). Saying that it is unfair for these students to have a lower tuition rate is selfish. It will create more jobs and will further increase the tax revenue, which will benefit the economy in the long run. Undocumented students will not be able to afford any education following high school without tuition equity. United States citizens are provided with generous opportunities to support them in attending college. Undocumented students are being punished for something they had absolutely no say in; and it is ruining their future. 

In his speech, "An Ultra Low-Cost College Degree," Shai Reshef, founder of University of People, a tuition free online school that offers education to people around the world. He expresses his hopes of higher education transforming into an institution that can "change from being a privilege for a few to a basic right, affordable and accessible to all" (Reshef 2014). Reshef's speech parallels with the popular idea that undocumented students should have the opportunity to obtain higher education and that it should not be out of their reach. It should be an opportunity given to every single student in the United States. Reshef aims to exude a pathos appeal by offering anecdotal evidence with three different students' stories regarding their experience in pursuing a higher education. He relates them to his argument: "higher education is failing millions of potential students, millions that graduate high school, millions that are qualified for a higher education, millions that want to study yet cannot access" (Reshef 2014). In lieu of Shai Reshef's convincing plea for these students, I cannot refute his argument that the financial cost of higher education is a very concerning issue. While the mission of the University of the People is a step in the right direction, the overarching effects that may stem from it are extremely limited because a computer science or business administration degree are the only degrees that are attainable. This undoubtedly hinders many students who cannot afford the tuition at other universities to obtain degrees in the arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences, and the other majors they want to study. In turn, it creates a setback for the American economy because of the influx of immigrants and their financial limitations disallowing them to earn a college degree consisting of anything other than one in Business Administration or Computer Science. This will inevitably result in fewer jobs and fewer people who are qualified for any other career that warrants a different degree than the ones offered at the University of People. Therefore, I argue that tuition equity for undocumented students in the United States could create the opportunity to pursue their dreams, an opportunity for success, stabilization, and growth for not only these students, but for our economy as well. 

Vicky J. Salinas, lawyer and author of "You Can Be Whatever You Want to Be When You Grow Up, Unless Your Parents Brought You to This Country Illegally: The Struggle to Grant In-State Tuition to Undocumented Immigrant Students," says "it is estimated that over 10.7 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States" (Salinas 848). She explains that out of the 10.7 million, 1.5 million of those are children yearning for an education. This number alone represents the students who have grown up dreaming of higher education only to realize it is sadly out of their reach. Undocumented students are brought here so young by their parents and there is a slim to no chance of them not staying in the United States for the rest of their childhood and lives, so why not "maintain obstacles to their pursuit of a college education" (Salinas 850). Salinas' journal parallels with Michael A. Olivas book, No Undocumented Child Left Behind: Plyler V. Doe and the Education of Undocumented Schoolchildren, in that they both discuss the Supreme Court case Plyler V. Doe. Although this case was definitely beneficial to undocumented students and their futures, this case also has its flaws. Supreme court case, Plyler V. Doe made it possible for undocumented students to enroll in Texas public schools. This case benefits the undocumented students that go through K-12 education. This is a great start to equal education and undocumented students' journey to a higher education. However, this still does not solve the problem with tuition equity when they are pursuing a college education (Hull).

All undocumented students want is a chance, a chance to prove what they are capable of, a chance to show off all of their hard work, a chance to prove that they can do anything a normal American citizen can do. They cannot have an opportunity to take any of these chances without tuition equity or instate tuition provided to them. In his book, We are Americans: Undocumented Students Pursuing the American Dream, William Perez interviews a variety of undocumented students who grew up "American" (Perez xvii). Throughout these interviews, he learns about their experiences in their education thus far. Perez's story reflects on undocumented students' "hardships, dreams, ambitions, and desire to be accepted as regular Americans" (Perez xviii), but they still have not been recognized as American. The stories of these sixteen students have an appeal to pathos, which results in a hidden argument that William Perez makes in telling his audience the backgrounds and experiences of these students. Perez expresses the importance of how the students have "grown up 'American' in every way possible; their dominant language is English, they proclaim an American identity, and they live in an American lifestyle" (Perez xviii). They are American in almost every way besides where they were originally born; in most cases they were brought to the Unites States as infants, allowing them to grow up in almost every way as American. They are different in just one way, but they are very similar to their classmates and friends in so many other ways. Yet this one difference results in one of, if not the most challenging obstacles they will ever have to face in their lives: not being provided instate tuition or given any financial aid when they want to pursue a higher education. They feel trapped, "tied down to the ground with a ball and chain" (Perez 11), as undocumented student, Jaime, explains his experience with education. They have the determination and dedication to pursue this dream of theirs and make it a reality, but they are not given the opportunity to do it. Undocumented student, Jeronimo feels like "someone is giving him a car, but not putting any gas in it" (Perez 19), he cannot go anywhere with his education without tuition equity. These are just a few statements that illustrate how these teenagers feel and the hardships they face when they are trying to succeed in their future of education. Passing the tuition equity law in the United States will change these sixteen and the rest of the millions of undocumented students' lives. After learning more about the sixteen students, Perez was able to see their determination, their hard work, and the urge they have to contribute to their home; America. 

Passing the tuition equity law is fair to both undocumented students and out-of-state students. It has the potential to stimulate the economy, provide more jobs, increase tax revenue, and many more benefits. Tuition equity will only benefit America and it will not take away education opportunities or change education for American citizens. It will only financially enhance the states, which will then enhance the country. There will continue to be a number of people living in America without a career and without an education if the tuition equity law ceases to exist. All in all, the economy would see a substantial amount of benefits if the law were to be passed in all of the United States. Undocumented students should be recognized as the bright, determined students that they continue to show that they are. If these students were given this opportunity to attain a higher education and eventually a career; then it would change their lives and America in so many positive ways. These students continue to prove and so many have already proven that they are dedicated and that they are longing to learn. They have the potential to change the world one day; one of them could discover the cure for cancer. They cannot show what they are capable of accomplishing, or have opportunities to change the world or to find the cure for cancer unless they are given that chance. Tuition equity will give them that chance they have been desperately waiting for.

