Over and over we read and hear about reduced money available for financial aid for our college-bound youth. As Richard Sanchez stated in the Jan. 10 article about the Latino/a Educational Achievement Project, hundreds of aspiring doctors, chemist, lawyers and teachers may never reach their goals because of the fact that they are not legal U.S. citizens.

They will never reach their goals because of the tremendous competition for what money is available for families to help offset the high cost of a college education. This country educates far to many non-U.S. citizens with what money and facilities are available for higher education. We need to focus our attention and tax dollars on providing financial aid for those U.S. citizens and children of U.S. citizens, who want college degrees but can't afford the high cost.

If undocumented individuals want to take advantage of what this country has to offer, then I suggest they become U.S. citizens first. Additionally, the article pointed out one Hispanic student who had to alternate work and school. Working one quarter and attending classes the next is not a new or unusual concept. I personally had to do that and several of my grandchildren have to do that as well.

JOE CORDER, Kennewick