Douglas McGray interviews "Maria", a bright UCLA student who was born in Mexico, illegally brought to the US by her parents when she was 9, wants to be a OB-GYN, but is facing a bleak future because she cannot work here legally.

For those of you who like to talk about all of the problems with illegal immigrants and think we ought to kick them all out, listen to this program.

Actually if she is as smart as they are saying, and if I was in her position - I would go abroad for medical school to India, China, or even Russia (Moscow has a very good medical school). The US programs are really over-rated. She should not let the fact she is not a US citizen stop her from becoming a doctor. There are better medical schools abroad anyway.
I know that is not the central issue - but I am pointing out that she has other options.

The US programs are really over-rated. She should not let the fact she is not a US citizen stop her from becoming a doctor. There are better medical schools abroad anyway.
I know that is not the central issue - but I am pointing out that she has other options.

Isn't it cheaper abroad also?

As another option, couldn't she go back to Mexico with her degree, then attempt to come back to the U.S. legally? To be a doctor she will still have to go to graduate school. She could apply while still living in Mexico (Graduate schools will take foreign students), get accepted and come over on a student visa and then become a formal citizen. I even know some of my undergrad friends who did this.

Actually if she is as smart as they are saying, and if I was in her position - I would go abroad for medical school to India, China, or even Russia (Moscow has a very good medical school).

Yeah, and the US could also pass the Dream Act, which would allow people who grew up in the US to get citizenship, conditioned on them getting a college degree. There's no need for this talented individual to have to go to India, China, or Russia to become a doctor.

As another option, couldn't she go back to Mexico with her degree, then attempt to come back to the U.S. legally?

The story addressed this. She would have to wait in Mexico for up to 10 years before being eligible for a green card in the US.

The story addressed this. She would have to wait in Mexico for up to 10 years before being eligible for a green card in the US.

I think the article's point there has to be faulty, unless the U.S. just does not like accepting foreign students from Mexico. My university accepts a lot of foreign students who do not have to wait 10 years for a visa (unless they applied to college when they were 10 or so). I'm also pretty sure student visas and green cards are two different things, of which student visas are easier to get at the college level.

lovelylovely, she is already in college (she is about to graduate). Her dream is to go med school. Even if med schools accept applicants with student visas, in order to get a student visa she would need to prove that she could afford her tuition and living expenses. There is no way the child of poor Mexican illegal immigrants is going to be able to fulfill that condition. A green card (legal permanent status) would allow her to work and to apply for financial aid. The radio show said it could take her up to 10-15 years to get a green card after she moved back to Mexico.

Schwarzenegger just vetoed the latest incarnation of the Dream Act.