I wrote this book to document the history of the struggle to secure immigrant students’ access to higher education because I believe that an accurate understanding of this movement for equal rights is important for its advocates, for policymakers, and for others seeking to understand and document this aspect of life for the undocumented and this reality of the educational system in this country. I believe that by offering a context and an accurate presentation of the origins and implications of in-state tuition laws, readers will be provided the best basis for understanding this struggle for equal application of the law and access to higher education.

It is my hope that this book may serve to inspire others to write their own. While we are fortunate to have a growing number of articles and now dissertations on this subject, this may be the first general book on this historic change. More are necessary and undoubtedly on the way, especially since the issue is far from settled.

It is also my hope that addressing and correcting some of the seemingly limitless disinformation concerning undocumented immigrants will provide a modest contribution to counter the malignant demonization of undocumented immigrants, youth and their parents, and help to broaden support for equal access to higher education. Thus far, the number of immigrant youth in the United States who have availed themselves of in-state tuition policies remains negligible. Even so, as this manuscript goes to the publisher, attempts continue to repeal in‑state tuition laws, such as a February 2008 vote in the lower house of the Utah state legislature. Even without these challenges, the states do very little, if anything, to inform educators, students, or parents of this new opportunity provided by the law. Still, the students continue their struggle to gain and defend equal access to education and to regularize their immigration status. They are undaunted as their cruel condition leaves them few alternatives, and their sense of dignity demands it. The main motivation for this book is their remarkable tenacity that has proved to us that they can succeed—¡Sí se puede!