Aliento’s Statement on Texas Governor Abbot’s comments on Plyler V. Doe
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Jose Patiño, Aliento, 480-287-2140 - jose@alientoaz.org
On May 4th, 2022, the Texas Governor, Gregg Abbot, said on a radio show that he would challenge the Plyler V. Doe Supreme Court case which was ruled in 1982. Plyler V. Doe case granted undocumented children access to a free K-12 public education in the United States. With the recent leaked memo on the SCOTUS striking down Roe V. Wade, protections of human rights that have long been established like Pyler V. Doe could be challenged.
Reyna Montoya, Founder & CEO of Aliento and DACA recipient, statement: "Education is a human right. Denying children the opportunity to have a quality education sends the wrong message to our society. This could create a class distinction for these children and their parents, and it could also lead to other issues such as low self-esteem and mental health and even economic issues. It denies these children and our communities the opportunity to succeed and contribute to this country that we call home. Governor Abbott is trying to take us back to the '70s, but we have come a long way, and we won't allow them to strip away our children and our students' right to an education. We will continue working to ensure everyone has access to primary education and affordable higher education."
Quotes from the SCOTUS in 1982 ruling:
“By denying these children a basic education,” the Court said, “we deny them the ability to live within the structure of our civic institutions, and foreclose any realistic possibility that they will contribute in even the smallest way to the progress of our Nation.” The Court also said that holding children accountable for their parents’ actions “does not comport with fundamental conceptions of justice.”
Aliento is committed to ensure our undocumented and DACAmented youth have access to attain a higher education in our state. In-state tuition for Dreamers will be in the ballot this Nov 8, 2022. We are collecting pledges in support of Dreamers.
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Aliento is a community organization that is DACA, undocumented and youth-led. We are directly impacted people and allies who are invested in the well being, emotional healing, and leadership development of those impacted by the inequalities of lacking an immigration status.