Californian student body president exposed for being undocumented

In a meeting with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Nov. 16, President Obama promised to continue working to see the DREAM Act pass before the end of the 2011 Congress.

Many students on Duke campus have taken action in favor of the act, but for one student at Fresno State University, the DREAM act has hit a little closer to home.

After receiving an anonymous tip, The Collegian, the Fresno State college newspaper published an article revealing that its Associated Students, Inc. President Pedro Ramirez was serving without pay because of his illegal status.

Ramirez confirmed this information adding that the administration was aware.

"For me, it's an emotional issue," Ramirez told The Collegian. "Not a lot of people know that I am undocumented. A lot of people I go to class with...students, faculty, staff and staff administrators think I'm a normal student."

Ramirez, is able to attend Fresno State as a result of Assembly Bill 540, a bill under California law that was preserved Monday allowing undocumented students to attend the university to pay in-state tuition—affecting 25,000 students in California.

The disclosure comes amid recent debates about education for undocumented students.

What are your thoughts on the issue?

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