IMMIGRATION REFORM:  LOCAL & STATE

Background

Local: Our County has historically been a place welcoming to immigrants. This welcoming environment has allowed the county to maintain one of the most dynamic, growing economies in the nation. However, there are groups that are putting pressure on Montgomery County politicians to cut services and education rights to immigrants.

State:   AIM believes that all immigrant students, regardless of their immigration status, should pay the same in-state tuition rates of their peers.  Before the passage of the MD DREAM law, if a talented undocumented youth wanted to attend college or a state University they had to pay double or triple the rates of their peers. (In Maryland, the exception is Montgomery College that had been allowing all county students to pay in-county rates.)  The high tuition rates meant most of our hard working students were forced to stop their education because they could not afford it. We believe it is a win-win-win-win to educate our immigrant youth.  It is good for the students, good for Maryland and good for our communities. More Maryland college graduates means more taxes for our state and more tithes for our congregation.

There are some who are working now to undo the MD Dream Law.   AIM Clergy and lay leaders are working to get out the word in Maryland about the importance of this new law.

AIM’s Message on the Importance of the Maryland Dream Act

AIM’s Successes:

Local:  AIM leaders received public assurances in front of hundreds of AIM members from County Executive Leggett that the county will remain welcoming to all, including that tuition at Montgomery College will tay the same for everyone. 

State:  The Maryland Dream Act was signed into law.