09:44 AM CST on Tuesday, March 28, 2006

By Shern-Min Chow / 11 News

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Comprehensive immigration reform has triggered tremendous controversy, including student walkouts here at home.

Some fear those responses may eclipse the lesser known aspect, which has much stronger bipartisan support.

It was a vivid civics lesson Monday as scores of students skipped class from Eisenhower and Humble high schools to protest HB 4437.

KHOU-TV

Julian Hernandez and Jorge Mateo have scholarships to the University of Texas.

That is the number of the bill approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday.

The Internet and radio protest campaign had also reached Milby High school, although only after school hours.

Among those watching, Julian Hernandez and Jorge Mateo, seniors at the school.

"I'm in top 5 percent of my class," said Milby student Julian Hernandez.

"I'm also taking AP calculus, taking AP government/economics, AP chemistry," said student Jorge Mateo.

The 17-year-olds are both excellent students. Both have been accepted to UT Austin, the prestigious engineering and business schools. Both are illegal.

"It's not my fault I was brought into the country. Why should I have to pay for decisions that were made before I was even born?" said Hernandez.

Jorge came as a baby. Today he lives in a tiny efficiency apartment with his mom. His American Dream may only come thru DREAM Act, for good students.

It applies to those brought to the U.S. more than five years ago when they were 15 years old or younger, who graduate from high school and have good moral characters.

The measure grants them conditional residency.

"They're given six years to be here legally, to be able to work and either get a 2-year degree, two years towards a 4-year degree or two years in the military," said Magali Candler, Tindall & Foster immigration attorneys.

Then, permanent residency and citizenship could follow.

Right now, undocumented children can not work legally after graduating.

"I want to do what I studied for," said Mateo.

Jorge's dream, aerospace engineering, is bolstered by a $20,000 scholarship from the University of Texas. It's a huge one for his mom, who was unable to finish college in Mexico.

His mom is a house cleaner, he said.

Julian Hernandez, the other student, also won a $20,000 scholarship from UT.

We contacted Congressman Culberson's office, which indicated he opposes the DREAM Act. But he was unavailable for comment.

In the past, critics argued the measure rewards an illegal act.

DREAM Act stands for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors.