By Alexander Dworkowitz
A Flushing-based Korean-American advocacy organization is pushing for two federal bills aimed at giving green cards to undocumented students and allowing them to receive financial aid.
The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium and its Flushing affiliate, the Young Korean American Service and Education Center, were planning to lobby for the national legislation in Washington, D.C. Wednesday.
The bills would allow undocumented American high school graduates who have lived in the country for more than five years to apply for a green card, which makes them legal resident aliens. Such students currently can apply for a green card but have to pass through many legal hurdles and often wait many years before their application is considered. The legislation would put the student application on the fast track for approval, allowing students to receive their cards within a year.
The House of Representatives’ version is called the Student Adjustment Act, and the U.S. Senate bill is called the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, also known as the Dream Act.
The green card entitles U.S. residents to certain benefits, including federal financial aid.
“The Korean-American community, the Asian-American community, we’re all excited about this federal legislation,” said Steve Yun, executive director of National Korean American Service & Education Consortium, at a Tuesday news conference at the Young Korean American Service and Education Center office at 50-16 Parsons Blvd. “It’s going to give green cards to productive, hard-working, well-educated students.”
Yuna Im, a 23-year-old Flushing resident, said the passage of legislation would benefit her greatly.
Born in South Korea, Im entered Broadview Academy in Illinois in 1993. Participating in a work-study program, Im graduated with a high school diploma in 1998.
Two years later, she enrolled in a community college in Skokie, Ill. Unable to receive financial aid, Im spent most of her time working and could only afford to take one or two classes a semester.
In 2001, Im left the college and came to Flushing.
Im is volunteering at Young Korean American Service and Education Center, pushing for the legislation to pass.
“It’s hard to live as an undocumented person in the U.S.,” said Im. “There’s always the fear of them finding me undocumented and kicking me out of the country.”
The legislation applies primarily to students ages 12 to 21. However, the bills would allow students who qualified at any point in the last four years to apply for the green card, thereby giving Im a chance at getting a green card.
Im hopes to enroll in a college in the New York City area next year.
Yun was confident the legislation would pass the Senate. He noted that the Dream Act has bipartisan support, with many business groups pressuring senators to pass the bill and provide more educated sources of labor.
But was unsure that the legislation would make it through the House because of resentment toward immigrants in the climate following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
“There’s definitely some anti-immigrant sentiment,” he said.
Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 141.
