Like countless immigrants growing Mexican community in the city of New York, Virginia Ramirez and Israel Garcia arrived as teenagers, not knowing English. But they quickly found work and began to build a life here, away from their rural homes. Their path to the future ran through CUNY. It is a path that the University, in an unprecedented partnership with the Consulate General of Mexico, seeking to expand. CUNY's goal is historical: Helping Mexico Mexicans and Americans to integrate into American society, as it has helped many previous waves of immigrants.

Ms. Ramirez, 25 years old, came when he was 16. "I realized that to do what he wanted to do was to get an education. Found work in" deli "as cashier, started in ESL at LaGuardia Community College and did the GED. Later I enrolled at LaGuardia, " studying theater . She founded the first university club for Mexicans, joined the student government and was the representative of the class at the beginning of last spring. Now at Brooklyn College, expects to graduate with a degree in television and radio in 2009.

Mr. Garcia, 37, came illegally at age 19. He worked in restaurants, starting as an apprentice cook at $ 25 a day, studied English in a library and in the church, he heard that he could enroll at Hostos Community College bilingual. (In Plyler v Resolution. Doe 1982, the U.S. Supreme Court barred states from denying education funding to undocumented youth). He had lived here long enough to qualify for in-state tuition, but being illegal, was not eligible for financial aid. He kept working, eventually becoming a chef, waiter, host and manager. After a year at Hostos, Mr. Garcia was transferred to City College, took remedial English and graduated with a BA in psychology 5 ½ years later, in 1999. "I think I was the only Mexican in college, I never met another". The legalized their status, earned a master's degree in social work from Columbia University in 2005 and is now a planner from the Department for the Aging City. He said the title of CUNY "allowed me to contribute to this country."

The difference between now and the time that Ms. Ramirez and Mr. Garcia came to New York are the numbers. The 2005 census counted 264, 000 residents born in Mexico or of Mexican heritage, about 44% more than in 2000. Between 2005 and 2006, the community grew by 16%. Jay Hershenson, CUNY Senior Vice Chancellor for University Relations and Secretary of the Board, said this influx of immigrants often without training, general education lacking, is an "educational catastrophe" in the short and long term. In response, Chancellor Goldstein asked him to chair a Task Force to Strengthen Educational Opportunities for Mexican-Americans and Mexico. Its mission is to plan and deliver educational services and leadership on behalf of that community. Meeting for the first time in October after CUNY negotiated a memorandum of understanding with the then Consul General Arturo Sarukhan, who is currently the ambassador of Mexico in the United States. Ruben Beltran succeeded him as Consul General. Over time, children born here will likely enter the school system and go to college, as have other groups. But worries Hershenson for today: The 2005 census found that only 49% of Mexicans and Mexico-American New York City, 25 years or older had earned a diploma or degree: 28% have a Basic high school diploma, 12% an associate's degree or higher and 9% a BA or higher.