Legal or not, immigrants are getting political on campus

Tri-Valley Herald reports:

Jose Ruiz is like many college students.

He's outspoken. He's politically active. And, most importantly, he wants to make sure as many people as possible hit the polls come Election Day.

Why? Because he can't. Ruiz is an illegal immigrant.

Buoyed by Super Tuesday's record Latino voter turnout, a San Jose State University student group — made up of both legal and illegal residents — is planning a widespread, grass-roots campaign to register voters, especially those who can speak for them at the polls.

"I don't need to live in the shadows anymore," said Ruiz, a 24-year-old San Jose State student whose mother brought him from Mexico on a tourist visa when he was a child.

The campaign is already sparking some controversy, with immigrant advocates applauding the students' efforts and opponents arguing their efforts could have grave consequences for U.S. citizens. No matter the reaction, though, it's another step forward for the group known as Student Advocates for Higher Education, which has challenged lawmakers to pass a bill granting certain illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship if they graduate from college.

Group members have repeatedly made headlines during the past year. First they took part in a weeklong fast last summer to draw attention to the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, prompting conservative radio host Michael Savage to suggest they starve to death. They also rallied outside House Speaker
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Nancy Pelosi's office to draw attention to a failed congressional vote on the DREAM Act.

Such activism is nothing new, but experts say this movement, led by illegal immigrants enrolled in college, is the latest phenomenon to grow from marches held across the country in 2006 to call attention to immigration reform.

Stylish.