Each year about 60,000 students, many of them brilliant, are prohibited by the system from continuing their education at a college. It is that simple, that absurd, that cruel.

         Forbidden to study: That is what American law tells thousands of students whose only sin is to have arrived in America as children clutching the hand of their undocumented parents. Good or bad, the decision to come to this country illegally was made by their parents, not them. But now it is the children who suffer the consequences.

         An example is Julita Rincon, from Guadalajara, Mexico, who crossed the border in 1996 to join her parents. She was only 13.

         "I feel more American than Mexican," she said in an interview.

         She speaks Spanish perfectly but communicates better in English. She has spent almost half her life in the United States.

         "We absorb a lot from American culture," she explained.

         When Julita finished high school in Texas, she was nearly forced to give up further study. But she found out that a new Texas law, the so called HB 1403, had been passed in the summer of 2001, thanks to the bill proposed by state Rep. Rick Noriega. That law allows undocumented students who have lived in Texas for more than five years to study in state universities as if they were legal residents. And for many, that law changed their lives.

          Julita, now in her fourth and last year studying psychology at Houston University, would have had to pay more than $20,000.00 a year as a foreign student. But to add a complicated twist, undocumented students cannot apply for many of the scholarships available.

          Now, thanks to HB 1403, Julita only pays $7,000 a year, as any other Texas resident, for books and tuition. About 300 students at Houston University are in a similar situation as Julita.

          I will talk more about her later. But first I must point out that this kind of success story is only possible thanks to organizations like Young Immigrants for a Better Future. Sponsored by teacher David Johnston, the organization has allowed teenagers facing a dead end to move forward and continue their studies.

         The Robert E. Lee High School, one of the most ethnically diverse in Houston, is a good example. Lee High School, as it is widely known, has students from 70 countries. But one out of four students is undocumented. And they are the ones who can benefit the most.

         "The kids are very motivated, very focused and many of them are graduating as honor students," Johnston said.

         The fact is these youngsters don't have a lot of options now that they feel emotional ties to America, even though they have no legal papers to prove it.

         "They really don't have any plans to return to their countries of birth," noted Alejandra Rincon, a teacher who works for the Austin (Texas) school district, who has particularly supported the HB 1403 law. "They grew up here; they feel just as American as other kids do. They have no concept of another country, or another culture, they are only familiar with our culture

here."

         Seven other states -California, Illinois, Kansas, New York, Oklahoma, Utah and Washington- have a similar law to that of Texas. And five more -Arkansas, Colorado, Ohio, Maryland and Wisconsin- are considering similar ones.

         However, none of this would be necessary if Congress passed the so-called Dream Act allowing undocumented students anywhere in the country to attend their state's college as if they were legal residents of that state and it is where they finished high school.

        The Dream Act has bipartisan support. But these days Washington doesn't have the political courage to support a law that might give the impression of favoring undocumented immigration. Too bad. Without such a law, the minds and dreams of youngsters who could make this country a better place are being tossed aside.

        Recently I came to New York to bring my daughter to university. And the joy and pride we both felt is something other Hispanic families cannot possibly experience. And only because of a simple piece of paper.

        I'll end this with Julita's story, which, sadly, doesn't have a definitive happy ending. In less than a year, Julita will receive her psychology degree.

        "But what am I going to do with my degree?" she wonders. "Hang it on the wall? I want my degree, but I can't work in the profession I've chosen."

        And there lies the tragedy. Julita was lucky to be a highly graded student, and as a resident of her state, to enroll in a state university. But now this active and optimistic student will not be able to practice her career. Up until a few days ago Julita was making sandwiches at a restaurant.

        Couldn't America find a way to offer her and thousands of other students like her a better future?