Pedro Ramirez, Fresno State Student Leader, Is Illegal Immigrant

FRESNO, Calif. — The popular student body president at California State University, Fresno has publicly revealed a personal detail he long sought to keep secret: He is an illegal immigrant.

Pedro Ramirez, 22, previously told campus administrators in confidence that he was concerned about going public with his immigration status after winning the top post in student government.

But that changed Tuesday when The Collegian, the newspaper at the largest university in California's prolific farming region, disclosed his status after receiving an anonymous e-mail.

"I don't want this issue to be about me," Ramirez told The Associated Press Wednesday. "This is a big, big issue that should have been addressed a long time ago. My goal is to bring awareness to that."

Ramirez was expected to appear Friday at a campus rally in support of the federal "DREAM Act," which would create a path to citizenship for young people living in the country illegally who attend college or join the military.

Meanwhile, student leaders were preparing for impromptu immigration debates Wednesday at an Associated Students Inc. meeting that Ramirez was expected to attend.

Ramirez, who has a dual major in political science and agricultural economics, came to the U.S. with his family from a small community in Jalisco, Mexico, when he was 3. He went on to become valedictorian of his high school class in nearby Tulare County, where he prepared for his "long road in higher education," according to his website.

He said didn't know he lacked proper immigration papers until high school, when he told his parents he planned to join the military before applying to college and they told him he wasn't a citizen.

"It's a relief that I was able to come out in the open because I've been holding this for several years, and hearing stories from other students who have gotten deported or moved because of the fear," said Ramirez, who hopes to open his own business or become a civil rights attorney.

"Though this is an obstacle, I want to keep moving up, and I'll do what I can to change the situation and hopefully become a citizen," he said.

Ramirez first told Fresno State administrators about his status in June, after his successful campaign to become student body president with the slogan "New Leadership, New Ideas."

Administrators verified he would break no campus or student leadership rules by assuming the post, but encouraged him to take on the role as a volunteer because he couldn't legally accept payment, said Paul Oliaro, university vice president for student affairs.

"I think it does suggest that even though a student may be undocumented, they have a lot to contribute to the campus and come with skills, knowledge and a willingness to serve," Oliaro said.

David Schecter, chair of the political science department and Ramirez's adviser at the school, said Ramirez was a thoughtful, unassuming leader who was serious about student government.

Ramirez seemed unfazed by the controversy as they sat together at an athletics advisory council meeting about the risk of concussions in field sports, Schecter said, adding no one mentioned the immigration issue.

"Regardless of the uproar, he is still doing his job," Schecter said. "He's the personification of a much larger debate about the role of undocumented Latino Americans in our daily lives, and my hunch is he understands the symbolism here."

Ramirez benefits from a law that allows all California residents, regardless of immigration status, to qualify for in-state tuition rates.

The state's high court upheld the law this week.

(This version CORRECTS Corrects age of Ramirez to 22 instead of 23. Updates with details.)

Comments

[mayacanogop]

04:50 PM on 11/22/2010

Now being a media hound and public figure, we should question Pedro's full background, taxes paid, scholarships awarded, associations with any radical group and his cohorts backgrounds and direct association with the Jerry Brown campaign and agenda. Being a public figures in politics comes with scrutiny, also we should question President Welty’s role if ethics violations occurred when promoting this agenda that affects his school should the California Supreme court decision be overturned. Nothing personal Pedro it’s professional when you took the risk to enter politics. To me it was cute seeing President Welty’s and last year political student opponents that opposed him viciously in regards student fee raises holding hands, perhaps a Kodak picture was necessary to cherish the moment and for memories.

[mayacanogop]

04:35 PM on 11/22/2010

Furthermore, the individuals that call themselves MeChista’s that I know which have organized this event taking a partisan role. All on the Jerry Brown campaign should be ashamed themselves and renounce their active membership due them profiting, acquiring personal gains of the back of other individuals.

[mayacanogop]

04:27 PM on 11/22/2010

That is why I will be stepping up to the plate this year using my established contacts through the Latino community particularly and a veterans organization to establish a template that could be replicated nationwide to support our Latino family members in setting the example that we depend on no one but ourselves. Also, as a Chicano I am mandated to question, in which I have nothing personally against Pedro but question his motives and a perceived calculation of the timing in how quickly events unfolded. Knowing that Pedro and others that have organized this event at last Fridays event have been on the Jerry Brown campaign and suspect agents of divisiveness that associate and breed among his political circle have influenced Pedro and coordinators of this event and to me there are too many coincidences.

[mayacanogop]

04:26 PM on 11/22/2010

As a HARDCORE CHICANO
I think, speak and feel for myself and disdain individuals who solely claim they represent 48 million Latinos, and their lack of education while using emotion rather than reason and own ability to think for themselves. History has shown conquering empires divide people prior to their conquest, as did Cortez in Meso-America. My perspective and two give clarity of AB540 and the Dream Act is that these are two separate laws but have been blurred by the elite liberal white intelligencia, stoking the fire using and manipulating the passions Latinos have to maintain their status quo and to divide us as a family. As the saying goes a house divided has no foundation to stand on and my experience is that this has been very divisive within our community of family in which many of us don’t support “institutionalized legal discrimination” that will discriminate against individuals with disabilities, veterans, and African-Americans should public funds be giving to a preferential group should the Dream Act pass. I believe this due to the Dream Act has not been fully disclosed by Democrats nor does the young students that I believe are being used by them and don’t know the fine print and sold a bill of goods promoted by emotions. That very much troubles me and as a proud “MeChista” I am against all forms of discrimination not justifying, or cherry picking what feels good rather than using reason and the rule of law

[Emma2011]

04:23 PM on 11/17/2010

The weak and defeatist Obama chose to squander the sizeable majorities that the Dems held for two years and punt on comprehensive immigration reform. More than ten million undocumented immigrants and their families will have to continue to suffer because Obama refuses to fight for them. Only about 800k immigrants will be legalized by the DREAM Act, but Obama is indifferent to the plight of the immigrants and only cares about protecting the Dems from having to vote on comprehensive immigration reform.