Arafat Rahaman of Newark is a Ph.D. student of political science and international relations at the University of Delaware.
I am writing to express my strong support for House Bill 44, which seeks to ensure that the state of Delaware has an education program for migrant children. This bill — awaiting action in the House of Representatives in 2026 — would guarantee that migrant students have opportunities to receive consistent and high-quality education, equivalent to the lessons received by all citizens.
As a nonresident immigrant in Delaware who hopes to become a legal citizen of the United States, I feel personally connected to migrant children’s rights, since these kids are often discriminated against because of language barriers, socioeconomic differences, interrupted schooling, health-related issues and racial biases. Navigating through life and schools in a new country is particularly challenging for the first and second generations of immigrants. As the First State, it is morally and ethically crucial for Delaware to offer equal opportunities, to break these barriers and to establish a standard for all states to guarantee equal rights to quality and consistent education for all children, regardless of their backgrounds.
The bill seeks to ensure that migratory children receive the same educational choices and have the same state academic standards that all students are expected to meet. To achieve this objective, Delaware officials must confirm that immigrant children receive proper funding and other support to fulfill their educational needs. As proposed in the measure, if funding is not sufficient to support those requirements, the Delaware Department of Education must identify, transfer and request supplementary moneys, so there is consistent assistance. This will confirm that migrant children receive benefits from the state and other resources.
It is imperative to mention that Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights also emphasizes the right to free and compulsory education at the elementary level for everyone. It is further reinforced by the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, in which the advantage of a quality education is highlighted without any discrimination. The United States is a signatory to this convention, and therefore, the right to proper schooling must be protected without bias of any kind.
To conclude, I respectfully ask the representatives to support HB 44 and vote in favor of it. Sincere backing from the legislators will ensure that no child is denied the satisfactory education to which they are entitled. I also urge all citizens to contact their local representatives, ask them to vote for this bill in the House and create awareness to build an inclusive society.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
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