Free higher education does not exist in the United States . Of the 50 states that comprise the US, only a small percentage (10%) allow access to higher education for migrants that live in their entities, with tuition fees equal to those for residents, independent of their migratory status. Illinois , California , Texas and Florida are outstanding in this sense.

At the other extreme is Arizona that, not only does not allow this but, (Law 300) forbids that higher education institutions accept students who cannot prove their legal residence in the US .

Nationally, approximately 60,000 undocumented students graduate from high school annually.

The Fundación México (FM) Educational Fund does not propose to violate Arizona law; only those that are accepted for admission to institutions of higher education will qualify for scholarships. Additionally, the scholarship recipients will be eligible for courses on the internet in accredited Mexican universities.

FM is convinced that Mexicans should be outstanding in this country, not only by their large numbers, (twelve millions of migrants born in Mexico that currently live in the US ) confirmed by all the marketing studies. As well, they must stand out by virtue of their values, their education and leadership. And for that, education is the best path.

Thus, the scholarships shall be granted to those who have the necessary academic qualifications.

The Arizona Law 300 violates Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that stipulates: “Technical and professional instruction shall be generalized; the access to higher education shall be equal for everyone according to their respective merits”.

Access to higher education in Arizona occurs not only by virtue of the academic merits of a state resident, it is also provided on the basis of the migratory status, discriminating, in this way, against more than 500-thousand undocumented Mexican in the state.

Given that Mexico is not active in the international fora and courts concerning the constant human rights violations that Mexicans in the US are subjected to, Fundación México decided to establish the FM Educational Fund to assist Mexican migrants that are resident in Arizona and who wish to pursue their higher education studies, independently of their migratory status.

Fundación México is open to a dialogue with institutions in other states that wish to support Mexican migrants that have graduated from high school. The demand is enormous and the offer of support is minimal.

We urge the civil society to do what the government has not done to date.

Additionally, the offer of scholarships for higher education for our people will benefit not only individuals, but the entire nation.

Given the above, it is proposed to the Congress of Mexico :

1. Approve a law that creates an international scholarship system of higher education for migrant Mexicans in the US, and in the rest of the world, supporting institutions such as Fundación México and/or with direct grants.

2. Increase the budget for higher education of Mexicans abroad that is authorized by the Secretariat of Public Education in Mexico .

Florencio I. Zaragoza
President of Fundación México
fzaragoza@fundacionmexico.org
www.fundacionmexico.org

Note: this is a copy of a speech presented to the Migrant Parliament in the Congress of Mexico, Friday, November 16, 2007, in representation of Fundación México.