Should an illegal immigrant be student body president at Fresno State?

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

Some people on Twitter have been discussing the story. A student at Northeastern is happy his university has never elected an illegal immigrant to student body office, while @LatinoDemocrats supports Ramirez's position.

Read more: Fresno State student body president acknowledges he is an illegal immigrant, refuses to step down

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Comments

[bill]

its denegrades CSU fresno. it actually is a decent school and central valley truly needs it to remain respectuful in the public eye. this is a black eye for the hard working families in the central valley who scrape together tuition for thier children to attend college there - its a mockery and shamefull. but then again this is the same city that is about the cancell its philharmonic and civic arts programs and has recently debated whether to turn off many of its street lights at nights b/c for both issues Fresno is broke - this is insult to injury. when will people have enough of the buffoonery??

[Cloud]

Sure, he should be allowed to serve. His parents brought him here when he was THREE YEARS OLD, and he didn't even find out he wasn't a citizen until he applied for college. He is BLAMELESS. Get angry with his parents if you must, but holding him responsible for their actions is unreasonable. His fellow students elected him. Respect their vote.

[Just Me]

Well, I've been undecided as to which direction I need to apply my schooling. Thank you Fresno for helping with this decision. I will now be directing my studies for graduation to helping the American Citizens win back their rights as citizens and to help the Immigrants that made it through the red tape to become citizens, that it was not all for naught.

[Borninamerica]

Hey L.A. Times and L.A. citizens would it still be as open a question if the student body president's name was of Greek or some other European descent? It just seems like the 'illegal' immigrant is always a person of color that makes the news from an adversarial or negative standpoint. Have I missed the reports that talk about European illegal immigrants?

[John Lieto]

Only if he is paying out of state tuition rates.

[Marley]

He is breaking the law and should be arrested. Also, I don't believe that he didn't know he was illegal until high school.

[Victoria]

Who cares? If he is smart, and got enough votes, live and let live.

[Denise]

Is he paying in-state tuition too?

[AAAAANDREE]

He is an illegal alien, illegal aliens when discovered should be arrested and deported. Anything else is a violation of U.S. law.

[Ceptfer]

Pedro did not break any laws, his parents did. His parents may well be here illegally but chances are that there was no viable way for them to come when there are only 5k Unskilled Immigrant Visas issued every year. We needed more workers in that category as evidenced by the 10+ million that are currently contributing to our economy. Yet our policies continue to ignore fundamental market forces, our needs and the Rule of Law while making even more laws that defy commonsense to keep workers out. Pedro has lived life as an American, he played by our rules and has earned his spot through his personal and academic achievements. There is no legal remedy for him. There are no forms for him to fill. There are no lines for him to stand in. There are no fines for him to pay. He is not a health risk, a criminal risk and did not take a spot from a more deserving student. It's time for the DREAM ACT. To deprive this young man from becoming a productive and contributing member of this country is contrary to the public interest! We are better served in reaping the benefits from our investment in his education and to benefit from what he will have to offer in the future. What he has to offer is far greater than than the perceived costs. Doesn't it make more sense to reap the benefits rather than to waste our investment in him and his talents?

[Dennis]

So everyone know that he is an illegal immigrant but no one is arresting him or his parents for breaking the law? America is a free country, isn't it?
Police officers and judges take an oath to uphold the law but they just let illegal immigrants spend our tax money for free.

[American]

The problem with allowing such undocumented students to gain citizenship is that it provides even more incentive for people in other countries to bring their children here illegally. If you reward such behavior, you will get more of it.

[steve rodriguez]

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[steve rodriguez]

The better question is, should an illegal alien allowed to stay in the country!
No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[steve rodriguez]

If he is a "fruit picker" no! If is is "an intellectual," with high-tech skills, and could better our country! Yes!!!

[Jasmine]

Totally agree with Victoria, it would be another scene if Pedro Ramirez was going to school with money that only had to go to residents/citizens.
But he is paying full tuition and not getting paid to be Student Body President.

[Cartman]

Should the LA Times even ask this stupid quesiton? He's ILLEGAL - he souldn't even be in the U.S.

[mjf042]

Liberals have totally lost their freakin' minds. They can't wait to turn the U.S.A. into a third world country to show how tolerant of others they are. Deport this ILLEGAL.

[Ray]

At least he's enjoying the free stuff we tax payers dole out.

[Dave]

ABSOLUTLY NOT!!!! What is wrong with this state???? This is just another example of rewarding criminals with a free pass!!!! I am sick and tired of my LEGALLY HARD EARNED MONEY going to support these criminals!! and thats ALL they are is CRIMINALS!!! ALL illegals from whatever country should be rounded up, entered into the criminal DNA database, and sent back the their country of origin, and banned permanently from re entering the United States!!!!! America is no longer the " land of opportunity " it is the land of " FREE HANDOUTS " to all but Americans. California should change it's name to NEWEST MEXICO!!!! Afterall they are the largest violators of our borders, social services, etc.... Remember PROP 187???? was a WONDERFUL piece of legislation!!!! Do you recall the largest number of people protesting against it???? Thats right!!! Mexicans and residensts of other central and south american countries!!!!

[eva lopez]

Is he a good student body president? Is he doing a good job?
so what if he is illegal immigrant, he is not killing any children or any one else. He is not selling drugs. So what
is the problem? What if it was you brother or sister?
Don't step down fight for what you believe in. This is our country and they gave you there vote. Keep you head up high
and keep up the good work

[Phil Osopher]

Hell No!

What kind of message you are trying to send CSUF?

I don't lean to the right but I sure am not a nutty left winger either.
He should not be deported but he should not be allowed to be their ''Token'' president.

...but he is still illegal and I do believe it knew it all the time.

[FSBulldog12]

I am an undergrad student at Fresno State and for me, it is a difficult issue because it's not like this guy purposely wanted to become an illegal immigrant. He wasn't the one who crossed the US/Mexico border, it was his parents. It's like hating on a kid because their parents are part of the KKK. They didn't choose it. If he was committing a crime and an illegal, then that's a whole different story. Deport ASAP. We don't need illegal criminals on our soil. Fresno State is a great CSU. In fact, it is one of the premier higher education state universities in California with many ranked programs/schools. Having an illegal immigrant as our student body president might not look right on paper, but if you were a sensible person, you would further investigate as to what exactly resulted in this person being ASI president. My opinion on this is pretty much passive. The guy's not hurting anybody by being student body president, but it's also not right for illegal immigrants to have the same benefits we have as US citizens. Whether he steps down or not, it is his choice. It shouldn't be forced by anybody. If he feels that he shouldn't be FSU's student body president, then let him make that decision. In the end, I really don't think it matters. What's done is done. It's not like he's telling every illegal out there to head to Fresno State. He's just trying to do what is expected of him as president. On to the bigger picture, if we want illegal immigrants to stop sneaking into our country, tighten up the border. Let them know that there is no possible way to enter this country unless it is done the legal way. If every other country outside of North America has to enter the legal way, they have to also.

[Mez]

He isn't an American.. He is Illegal. It does not matter that he has been here since the age of three.. and Should not attend any of our educational institutions.

[Noemi]

Why do people act stupid sometimes?...So someone doesnt have papers holds an office....at least hes not comiting crimes...I VOTE FOR PEDRO!!!! They are just mad becuase a nobody took somebody's job.....