Michael Gonzales

March 19 panel discussion to tackle
immigration law, public education

The NIU Center for Latino and Latin American Studies and the Latino Law Students Association are co-sponsoring a panel discussion on "Latinos and the Law: Immigration Law, Amnesty, and Access to Public Education."

The event is scheduled for noon Wednesday, March l9, in the Swen Parson Hall Moot Court Room (Room 170).

Panelists are Patrick Kinnally, adjunct professor of law at NIU and a specialist in immigration law; Robert Burk, NIU's director of admissions, and Rene Hernandez, a Rockford attorney. The panelists will discuss proposed state legislation that, if approved, would allow undocumented students who have graduated from Illinois high schools, and who meet certain residency and admissions criteria, to pay in-state tuition at Illinois public universities.

Panelists also will address the issue of amnesty for undocumented persons residing in the United States and other related issues. The panel discussion is open to the public, and audience participation is encouraged.

Professor Michael J. Gonzales, director of the Center for Latino and Latin American Studies, said these are issues of great significance for tens of thousands of undocumented persons and their children in the United States.

"Many outstanding high school students cannot attend public universities because they cannot afford the high cost of out-of-state tuition," Gonzales said. "The United States must come to terms with the fact that so many undocumented persons are gainfully employed, tax-paying residents who are technically ineligible to become citizens."

3-17-2003