Debt with regret: student loans devastate millions

By Aliana Urdaneta-Rodas ’25

Student loan debt: A daunting statement that panics most Americans of all ages. Many believe that no matter how much money they make they will never be able to buy a home or retire because they are drowning in the debt they owe.

A big question in American households is, “Is it worth it?” Many argue yes, given the fact 88 percent of billionaires received a bachelors and 52 percent earned a Ph.D. or Doctorate.

A majority of careers require a college degree or credential to even be considered for a job position, and various economic-circles can’t even afford to receive an education.

Senior Angie Levano ’23, who will be attending Mount St. Mary’s University, has not taken out loans at the moment.

She did state, however, “If something were to happen in the future and I need student loans then I am afraid of the debt.”

In the beginning of President Joe Biden’s candidacy he promised Americans student loan debt forgiveness.

Biden made that plan a reality by forgiving up to $20,000 of individual debt, totalling up to nearly $20 billion forgiven. The White House stated that 40 million Americans are eligible for the Biden relief plan, 26 million had already applied, and 16 million had been approved until the Federal Appeals Court blocked the program’s plan.

Although student loan debt forgiveness sounds relieving, many can make a compelling argument that it would not be a permanent solution.

It could possibly be unfair causing student loan relief temporarily but then having a future generation pay for it later, which would double the amount paid in student loans and taxes.

Band teacher Lance Ohmneiss first attended junior college before later attending San Francisco State and then eventually finishing at Mosiah University, majoring in education and instrumental conducting.

When asked if he still owed student loans he answered, “Oh absolutely, I’ll owe student loans probably until the rest of my life.”

The process of debt repayment that most people deem unfair is not the obligation of paying off the expensive student loans, but how graduates don’t only pay what they borrowed but an added interest payment as well.

Each check that goes into the plan is taken to pay the interest rate, not the loan. The interest increases the amount owed over time, causing most to never escape their debt.

California is the state with the highest student loan debt, as of 2022.

“I do believe if we were to do some sort of reform as a nation, it shouldn’t be that we should go ahead to expunge student loans, but pay loans interest free and pay off only what you borrowed,” said Ohmneiss. College counselor

Jackie Grealish recommends taking the community college route as an alternative for students who want to save money. She also seems to be a big fan of trade school, by saying “Trade school is awesome because you start getting experience right away and generally make so much money.”

Crisis at southern border: 39 migrants killed in fire at immigration facility

By Angela Jia ’25

Migrants set mattresses on fire in protest, in a Ciudad Juárez immigration detention facility near the United States border that left 39 dead and 29 injured on March 28.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the fire started because the migrants feared deportation, but the Los Angeles Times cites an anonymous Mexican federal official who said the protest started because 68 migrants were crowded in a cell meant for 50 and they had no drinking water.

Five suspects were arrested by Mexican officials for their role in the fire.

Thirty-one of the dead were from Central America and eight were from South America.

The facility was across El Paso, Texas, which is a major crossing point for migrants who are hoping for opportunities in the U.S. or those who are seeking asylum in the U.S. and are waiting out the process for approval.

“I think it’s awful what happened,” said Spanish teacher Avishan Peer.

“I think that there needs to be a lot more accountability on the part of the Mexican government and the immigration facilities in protecting the human rights of the people who are detained in their facilities.”

Tensions had been running high between the authorities and migrants for weeks before the fire. In an open letter released on March 9, migrant shelters and advocacy organizations complained of the criminalization of migrants and asylum seekers in the city.

Overcrowding in facilities has been increasing in recent years, as Mexican officials try to stem the amount of migrants to the U.S. under pressure from the American government.

“I think there are mulitiple solutions that need to be implemented but it would take collaboration between the Mexican government, the American government, nonprofit groups, the immigration facility and our lawmakers,” Peer commented.

“I think it’s a collaborative effort that needs to happen in order to protect immigrants from all the dangers that can happen.”

Some activists see the tragedy as the result of poor immigration policy.

They cite former president Trump’s “Return to Mexico” policy which made immigrants wait for months and years in border cities for their court dates.

The policies of the Biden administration were criticized too, with their promise to enact another asylum ban exacerbating the problem.

The Hope Border Institute, a Catholic advocacy group that works with immigrants in El Paso and Juárez, said, “The Biden administration’s increasingly aggressive posture on migration enforcement and deterrence first strategies at the border have pressured Mexican authorities to stem migration in an already overcrowded and under-resourced system resulting in fatal tragedies such as the one we witnessed...”

“U.S. Customs and Border protection said they were “... prepared to receive and process those who were injured in the fire and are being transported via ambulance from Mexican to U.S. facilities for treatment.”

Immigration along the U.S.-Mexico border will go through another drastic event with Title 42 ending on May 11.

Title 42 is an immigration law that was created during the pandemic under Trump as a fast way for authorities to expel thousands of migrants to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

However, this does not mean open borders. Immigration laws will still be enforced, and the Biden administration says it plans to increase deportations once Title 42 has ended.