(Texas) Illegal immigrant campaigns for A&M student body president

KENS / KHOU ^ | February 29, 2012 | Kevin Reece

[SwinneySwitch]

HOUSTON — In the final hours before the vote at Texas A&M for student body president, Jose Luis Zelaya shook a few more hands, asked for few more votes, and proudly explained to those who inquired why he can be an Aggie and an illegal immigrant.

Zelaya, 24, is a graduate education student in College Station. He came to the U.S. from Honduras with his mom when he was 14, graduated from Langham Creek High School in Houston and dreamed of being an Aggie from the first day his mom found an “Aggie Mom” t-shirt when, homeless, she stayed at an immigration shelter.

“I believe I was predestined to be an Aggie and it’s an honor,” he said. “I am willing to do everything, whatever it takes to be able to help the next generation to go to college, to motivate them. To tell them about a little kid who used to be homeless and is now in college.”

Zelaya attended Lone Star Community College in Cypress then transferred to A&M to complete his undergraduate degree. He and his family pay for his education a semester at a time. He even crochets and sells knit hats or beanies, often maroon and white, to help pay for his classes.

But can you be an Aggie and be an illegal immigrant? Yes, Texas law allows him to go to college. As of fall 2006, anyone who has lived in Texas for three years before graduating, or receiving a diploma equivalent from a high school, and has also lived in the state for a year prior to enrollment in college, qualifies for in-state tuition as a Texas resident.

But why run for student body president and announce to the world, and to immigration officials who could seek his deportation, that you are undocumented?

“To believe that you can do it,” he said. “I think that the risk is little when it comes to how much lives can be inspired and motivated.”

Not everyone has accepted his campaign to become student body president. He says there have been online death threats and plenty of Aggies and non-Aggies calling for his deportation. But Tuesday, on the final day of campaigning against the other five candidates, Zelaya found mostly acceptance.

“He’s done his time and done his work,” said student Caitlyn Thibodeaux. “He’s in school so I don’t have a problem with it.”

“ But I’m honestly surprised,” she said after learning of Zelaya’s candidacy for the first time.

“He’s accepted. He’s been through all the courses like everyone else has to, I don’t see why not,” added student Jazmine Jensen.

Zelaya hopes he can stay at A&M long enough to complete a PhD in education, secure his American citizenship, and begin his life as a school teacher. In the meantime he wears his Aggie ring proudly, except during tests, where he says he takes it off and places it at the top of his test to remind him of the Aggie ideals that guide him.

“Whenever I walk around campus and I see this amazing university, there’s so much love so much passion that I have for it and I just want to represent it. We’re not here to hurt the country, we’re here to give back to the country. I want to help—that’s all I want to do,” he said.

“Whether you’re undocumented, or gay or atheist you’re an Aggie,” he said. “And that’s what makes Texas A&M unique. We are a family.”

The top winners in the election for student body president will take part in a run-off election on March 1.

[SwinneySwitch]

“Whether you’re undocumented, or gay or atheist you’re an Aggie,” he said.

[Da Coyote]

Good.

Elect him president.

Then deport him.

What’s the problem?

[Tallguy]

Scofflaw runs for student body president... awww! How heart-warming! (wretch)

[DAC21]

If there is one State that this might fly it is Texas, mind you I said MIGHT. No telling the dummification of 17-22 year old kids these days. Example Lesbians being voted HS Homecoming Queens

[Theoria]

Texas law allows him to go to college. As of fall 2006, anyone who has lived in Texas for three years before graduating, or receiving a diploma equivalent from a high school, and has also lived in the state for a year prior to enrollment in college, qualifies for in-state tuition as a Texas resident.

Joy. Its already against Federal law to aid and abett illegal aliens. Texas A&M should have all federal funding[if any], stopped, until they 'fix' this issue.

'

A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when she or he:

* assists an alien s/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or

* encourages that alien to remain in the U.S. by referring him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or

* knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions.'

[floridavoter2]

Would it do any good to forward this article to ICE or some other agency?

[SandRat]

Forward it anyway as registered & signed receipt required. Then follow it up.

[silentreignofheroes]

ROLL TIDE!

[luckystarmom]

I might add that A&M is conservative, and he did not win. He did not even make it to the run-off.

[Iron Munro]

How appropriate - the return of the Texas “Dream Act”.

This is exactly the topic of many posts and heated discussions here at Free Republic back when Rick Perry was the Candidate Of The Month and repeatedly defended the Texas “Dream Act” at the Republican debates.

There were many, many, many Freepers defending his defense of the Texas “Dream Act” back then.

[chuckee]

“Would it do any good to forward this article to ICE or some other agency?”

No, not as long as Obama is President.He announced his policy a while back not to deport the undocumented unless they have committed a crime.He has suspended deportation procedures of illegals who have not committed a crime basically telling American citizens not to bother ICE by reporting the illegal next door.

[SwinneySwitch]

Headed to hell in a handbasket.

God help us.