Illegal dreams
AN INVITATION to the American dream was in her grasp, compliments of Mitt Romney.
''Congratulations!" began the letter from the Massachusetts governor. ''You are one of the first recipients of the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. The Adams scholarship is good for four years of free tuition at any University of Massachusetts campus or any state or community college. Your outstanding MCAS results automatically qualify you to receive this award."
Very quickly, the invitation was rescinded. The recipient, a graduate of the class of 2005, is the child of illegal immigrants. That disqualifies her for the scholarship, despite her high scores on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Achievement System exam.
''It's a difficult case, but the principle at stake here is an important one, and that is, state scholarship assistance should go to students who are residents of Massachusetts and not to people who are in the country illegally," said Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom, via e-mail.
This is another twist on the modern immigrant story and an especially ironic one. Romney established this special scholarship program to reward hard work and achievement. When the plan was first unveiled, critics predicted it would mainly benefit students in white, affluent districts with the state's top test scores. So, Romney revised the proposal, so it would send more money to needy and minority students in urban school districts.
The 18-year-old woman who qualified academically for this scholarship represents the target Romney promised to reach -- smart, industrious, financially needy, and minority. She has been living and attending high school in Massachusetts for three years. Her family has an application pending for legal immigration status. Going to college, she said, ''would be my dream."
But the dreams of the children of illegal immigrants are politically controversial.
Romney also opposes a bill that would allow immigrant students access to in-state tuition rates if they have been in the state for at least three years and graduated from a Massachusetts high school. State Representative Marie St. Fleur of Dorchester, one of the bill's sponsors, predicts the Legislature will approve it, as it did last year. But, she said, the question is, ''Can we override the governor and his veto?" About 400 students would be helped by the proposal, which is backed by the state Board of Higher Education.
These children represent an investment. Under a 1982 US Supreme Court ruling, they cannot be denied a K-12 public school education. What is the point of keeping them from a college education which not only helps them, but enhances the state's investment? Notes St. Fleur: ''Allowing these kids to get an education is a strength for Massachusetts, and not a weakness."
State Senator Jarrett T. Barrios of Cambridge, the bill's co-sponsor, points out that Republican governors in Texas, New York, Utah, and Washington have signed such measures into law. California, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Kansas have similar laws. Proponents outside of Massachusetts, said Barrios, argued successfully that ''children should not be held hostage for their parents' sins." Nationally, Senator Orrin Hatch, Republican of Utah, is sponsoring the ''DREAM Act," immigrant relief legislation which addresses the issues of higher education involving children of illegal immigrants.
The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, made Americans fearful of immigrants -- too fearful.
Under the current climate, ''Dr. Wang might not be allowed into the country now. He'd be called a communist or something." noted advertising executive Jack Connors, referring to An Wang, an immigrant from China. ''He came and he built Wang Laboratories and he helped me build my company," said Connors, who also chairs the Boston College board of trustees. Added Connors: ''The colleges will tell you that we need immigrant kids. They add diversity and, by the way, they are not stupid. This is not the time to pull the ladder up."
There are different ways ''to pull the ladder up." Denying in-state tuition is one way; so is dangling a merit scholarship and then snatching it away because a child's parents did not enter the country legally.
''We created this merit scholarship program to reward your hard work and achievement and to encourage you to go to college at one of our top-notch public higher education institutions," reads Romney's letter to Adams Scholarship recipients.
So much for celebrating the building blocks for success and the American dream. Romney says, tough luck if you are smart, hardworking, and the child of illegal immigrants.
Joan Vennochi's e-mail address is vennochi@globe.com. 
