Fresno State student body president acknowledges he is an illegal immigrant [Updated]

Pedro Ramirez, Fresno State's student body president, is an undocumented immigrant serving in the position without pay.

Ramirez, 23, attends school on scholarships and pays in-state tuition. California is one of 10 states that permit undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition -- a position that was upheld by the state Supreme Court this week.

After his election last June, he told the administration he would serve without pay -- a $9,000 stipend -- because he could not lie on employment papers. On Tuesday, an anonymous tip to the college newspaper forced Ramirez to go public.

Ramirez, who came to U.S. at the age of 3, said he did not know he was not a citizen until he was a senior in high school. As long as he can remember, he said, his parents -- a maid and a restaurant worker -- have told him he must work hard and achieve the American dream. He said they did not tell him he was not born in this country until he began applying to universities.

"I knew my parents were from Mexico, but a lot of people's parents are from Mexico," he said. "I grew up American."

Other than college counselors and administrators, Ramirez told no one of his status.

"I just kept it within. One of those things you don't tell anyone," he said. "But now I'm almost relieved to have to be open. Congress is about to vote on the Dream Act, which gives college students a path to citizenship. So, you know, here I am. It's me. I am one of the thousands whose fate is in their hands."

Ramirez said he would not resign his position unless the students who elected him demanded it.

The California Supreme Court's unanimous decision on in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants is the first of its kind in the nation.

Federal law prohibits illegal immigrants from receiving college benefits based on residency and not provided to all citizens.

However, state officials insist there is no conflict with federal law. Under California's non-resident tuition exemption, known as AB 540 and approved in 2001, public colleges can offer in-state tuition to those who have attended California high schools for at least three years.

Some of those students are illegal immigrants. Others are U.S. citizens who attended high school in California but whose families may now live elsewhere, or those who moved out of the state to study or attended boarding schools in California.

[Updated, 12 p.m.: Fresno State President John D. Welty said in a statement that Ramirez personally notified him after his election about his immigration status and volunteered to serve without pay. Welty said that Ramirez has fulfilled all the requirements of an AB 540 student and that his status does not bar his participation in student affairs.

Associated Students Inc. "requirements do not address immigration status, so Mr. Ramirez was not prohibited from running for ASI office," Welty said in his statement. "I commend Mr. Ramirez and other AB 540 students who are following state statute as they seek higher education.” ]

Meanwhile, Democratic leaders in Congress have pledged to vote on the proposed Dream Act before the end of the year. If approved, the legislation would allow students living in the U.S. illegally to earn legal status if they graduate from high school and complete two years in college or the military.

[For the Record, 6:14 p.m.: The headline on an earlier version of this post said Ramirez "refuses to step down." As the post notes, he said he would not resign his position unless the students who elected him demanded it.]

ALSO:

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-- Diana Marcum in Fresno

Photo: Pedro Ramirez. Credit: Pedro Ramirez for ASI President website

Comments

[Miguel]

Line jumper.

[daniel]

So where is the first comment that says he is taking the spot of a more deserving WHITE student who should be Student Body president??

[jsa26]

Daniel,

How about, I try for the first to say he should step down.

I really don't care what race or ethnicity the representative of a University's student body is but I do think they should be law abiding residents of this country.

[HJ]

He was brought to America when he was THREE. How can you not have sympathy for him? Blame the parents not the guy who was brought when he was three, studied hard, got into college and now had this whole life turned upside down.

[pvlovsp]

Daniel, your statement would have been more credible if you had said. "a more deserving American citizen student..."

[Rick]

This is a tough one. His parents bring him in and he only recently finds out he's here illegally. Actually I have a friend from Nigeria who overstayed their visa and continued their higher education beyond the alloted time. They ended up coming clean and paying some hefty fines and sorts but it got taken care of and they are now a legal citizen. This individual needs to do likewise and set an example by going through the proper channels to gain his citizenship.

[DooTell]

No, daniel, not white but U.S. CITIZEN.
"Those cutting in line shall be removed from the park."

[Laura Jay]

We have to support students who are productive like Pedro! We must support the DREAM ACT!!!!!

[Sick of these Times]

Daniel,

Not a white student. Just an American citizen of any color. You racist.

And didn't the Times say yesterday that one of the reasons illegal alien students deserve in-state tuition is because they don't qualify for financial aid? Odd that this particular student is on a scholarship.

[Jim]

When I was stationed in the Navy in San Diego, 85-90 I was a resident of CA but my wife was not and had to pay out of state tuition. Why should illegal not "undocumented" but illegal immigrants be allowed to pay in state tuition. Crazy CA legislators.

[Andrew]

What makes the white student more deserving to be a student body president? Is it because he's white? I'm white. Does that mean I'm more deserving to be a student body president? Does that automaticly qualify me?

The guy was 3 years old when his parents brought him here. Was he suppose stay in Mexico and raise himself? Is he suppose to go back to Mexico?

Any solutions?

[Vet1]

He needs to take an ethics course. Perhaps then he'd step down.

[lol]

He was obviously more qualified than the other, Im assuming, US citizens running for student body president. Besides, Fresno is in the middle of nowhere so we have nothing to worry about!

[Jess]

"Wait a gosh darned minute now, I should be Fresno State University's student body president! I'm an American, dagnabbit, and I want my country back!! That illegal stole my opportunity at respectability!! That should be my prestigious position!!! What's that? What are my qualifications?? Well, I... uhhhhh.. I'm..ummmmmm.."

[Marc Whitham]

Muy bien! The U.S. is crazy stupid if it thinks that deporting young men like this is an answer to anything. This is the American dream, en carne y hueso.

[Greg]

I retract my earlier statement....he arrived in California when he was 3 years old. Kings-X, I say let him stay, make him legal, and keep him working hard at Fresno State so he can become an even more productive citizen. He's the type of person we want in this state, and country. He is entitled to the in-state Cal State tuition/fee schedule. I don't see what the issue is......

[Greg]

I went to school with someone in a similar situation. His parents brought him from Brazil when he was 2 years old, and he didn't know he lacked legal status. He was ultimately deported to Brazil, even though he knew no one there and didn't speak Portuguese. He was murdered about a year later.

[Richard Long]

The main problem with the Dream act is that it allows chain legalization.

1 million students, plus 40 million extended family members would all be given citizenship.

[Karl Dahlquist]

Vote for Pedro!

[Legal tender]

I am torn between a rock and a hard place. I came to this country back when the border was a line in the sand basically.I was 2 years old as well. My parents however followed all the rules. My spouse and I did the same when she immigrated here. It took 4 years of process in the legal system for me to become a citizen after when i got married 2 years for my spouse to get her residence approved and come here to the USA. I was married during this 2 year wait to my spouse and it was tuff on our marrage! I am a U S Citizen for many years now and somehow feel cheated. How is it that illegal immigrants kids get the same benefits my children get. I did all the right moves, yet it somehow feels like why bother with the law if so many get rewarded for not following it. There are plenty of universities south of the border, That these folks can attend. While i feel the path to residency can be a reward through education, free tution is not. They get a double bonus in this case. My taxes are going towards thier free education.(federal money) Why am I being taxed for illegals to attend what law abiding residents children are entitled too? The american dream cannot be accomplished by a person whom breaks the laws he intends to respect as a legal resident. Its a double edged sword. So dont take this personal when I say its not an Anglo American thing cause I am not anglo. Its the fact that for every 4.0 grade point average Resident/ Citizen student an illegal takes his place with a slightly lower gpa cause hes challenged(minority). Thus creating this sub class at universities that the minority got in cause of a status quo. I hated that during college being looked at like a charity case by teachers. I got in on my own merits. Cuase i hated the stigma of this label and wanted to boldly state i was not a charity case. How many people have been bumped due to this from acceptance into the university system. Again if they want to go to school south of the border has some fine universities. This guy needs to reign and finish his college and then hope he gets a green card else he can also apply this education south of the border cause he aitn authrized to work here!!! hes illegal! Everybody wants the American dream however: there is the world of wants and thh world of realities. This reality is pay your dues before you play in my back yard. There is the right way and the wrong way. The wrong way is Not the American Way. nuff said.

[LarryH]

Daniel wrote: "So where is the first comment that says he is taking the spot of a more deserving WHITE student who should be Student Body president??"

Daniel, this is not about white, brown, black, etc. This is about people who have no legal right to be here, who are occupying space in our schools, draining scholarship money, draining resources at a time when *AMERICAN CITIZENS* need those resources in the land where they were born.

There is no country in the world, especially NOT Mexico, which would provide all the giveaways the United States does.

And now, Americans are seeing their taxes go through the roof and services being denied to them while illegal aliens grab what they want. Just the other day, the LA Times reported on the skyrocketing cost of going to UC or CalState, largely because middle-class families are being forced to pay for the tuition of underprivileged illegal aliens.

At the same time illegal alien students are enjoying a free education here, they are telling American citizens not to fly American flags in their own schools, as recently happened at the Denair Middle School and elsewhere.

This is a form of insanity which has to end. No other country would tolerate this, and rightfully so.

But Americans have to be consequential here. Illegals should not attend our schools and soak up scholarships. We have to make legislation which puts an end to "anchor babies". And illegals who are known to be here, like the Pedro Ramirez in this story, should be sent home. And finally, most importantly, stiff punishment should be dealt out to those who hire illegal aliens and devalue American labor.

[bewildered bystander]

Mexico has over 1400 institutions for higher education, over 1.8 million students are enrolled there, among there best schools are: Autonomous University of Mexico, the National Polytechnical Institute, the University of Guadalajara, Veracruz U......Why not go there? Well I guess someone can shout back: "Ask a Stupid Question, Get a Stupid Answer"

[RL]

At Miguel.

"So where is the first comment that says he is taking the spot of a more deserving WHITE student who should be Student Body president??"

It is not about a WHITE student who should be Student Body president but an American Citizen (last I looked around my neighborhood, that included white, brown, black, yellow and a few red).

Miguel, that is the problem with your POV. You look at it as a race issue when in fact it is a citizenship issue. The laws of our land due not discriminate by color but they certainly should between who is here legally and who is not. If this is not the case, why have laws.

[Mere]

Why would I even want to get into this conversation? Most of the comments here are so extreme either way that reason is losing out! If we all want the very best for our country? If what we want are Americans who want to contribute and build up the strength, culturally, socially, politically, and so on? If what we want is a richer America? Can this young man make his own contribution to help us achieve that? Can his contribution, perhaps, be even more than our own? Just a few questions to ask ourselves before we post using our dogged philosophical partisan beliefs?

[Susan]

US citizens who are out of state attending college in Calif.
must pay highers tuition, as well as international students
who follow the rules...why should students born to illegal alien parents who broke the law, hopped the fence be afforded lower tuition....Yikes! Perhaps something to do with a new voting block once Dream Act is passed.

Disingenuous politicians should just admit this is all about votes and how to fast-track a culture crime into the Calif political mainstream!