Yesterday [January 11], the New Jersey State Senate decided not to bring a proposal – one that would allow undocumented students to pay the same college tuition as other New Jersey state residents – to a vote; their decision was met with disappointment.

The measure was not put to a vote for fear that it did not have the backing of a majority of the state's higher chamber. Consequently, it was not sent to the Assembly, meaning it was off the table for the 2009-2010 legislative session, which ended yesterday.

With the new reorganization of the legislature underway as of today [Jan. 12], the bill will have to be proposed anew and resubmitted to the corresponding committees so that it might finally, and with better luck this time, be brought to a vote.

"I feel disappointed but not defeated," said Diana Mejía, the founder of Viento del Espíritu (Wind of the Spirit) in Morristown. "The struggle has to go on, and we should take this as a signal to push us to keep fighting for the rights of the students who want to continue with a college career, but cannot due to the high cost of the tuition that undocumented immigrants are charged."

Ten other states allow undocumented students to pay the same tuition as state residents, which in New Jersey can be half of what out-of-state students pay. Advocates for the rights of the undocumented have been working to push this proposal through the New Jersey legislature since at least 2002.

Carmen Salavarrieta, of Ángeles en Acción (Angels in Action) in Plainfield, upset, stated that the majority of the students who want to go on to college or university "are young people who came to this country because their parents brought them, and it's not their fault they have no documents. All they want to do is to move ahead with their education, paying tuition charges that are more reasonable – they are not asking for any handouts."

Cid Wilson, vice chairman for the board of trustees at Bergen Community College expressed disagreement with the Senate decision. "This was not about a vote on immigration; it was a vote on giving educational opportunities to young people who have done nothing wrong, so they could pay the tuition out of their own pockets at an institution of higher learning." For years, this community college has followed a "don't ask, don't tell" policy with respect to students' immigration status. Wilson said that "they are punishing the young people."

Assembly member Nilsa Cruz-Pérez (D-District 5), one of the bill's sponsors, emphasized that "not only is the future of these students being compromised, but the future of New Jersey is being hurt as well."