Dictatorship Emerges in Massachusetts: Governor Deval Patrick Gives Illegal Aliens In-State Tuition

Legislature must answer Gov. Patrick on tuition

Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Worcester Telegram and Gazette

Gov. Deval Patrick’s decision to permit illegal aliens to pay in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education in Massachusetts constitutes an abuse of his power and a willful disregard of the repeatedly expressed intentions of the Legislature.

Twice the Legislature has considered and rejected bills that would have permitted those brought here illegally as children to pay tuition at the lower rates granted residents.

Now, Mr. Patrick, based upon Obama administration guidelines, has instructed public colleges and universities to charge in-state rates for illegals who hold federal work permits.

Mr. Patrick said Monday his directive was not a new policy, but re-emphasizing existing policy, and that “not every policy requires a legislative review.”

This one does.

Some lawmakers, including state Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, and House Republican leader Bradley H. Jones Jr., R-North Reading, are suggesting lawmakers will be heard on this issue.

Granting in-state tuition to illegal aliens, even those brought here by their parents at a young age — who feel they are residents and even American citizens — further blurs the line between those who have played by the rules and those who have not.

Comprehensive immigration reform legislation is still needed in this country, and the fate of those brought here at a young age by their parents should be settled by such legislation. It ought not be decided by presidential fiat, or a governor’s unilateral action.

Mr. Patrick’s decision is hailed by some as a financial boon to the commonwealth, as it will draw in some new students who otherwise might not attend college.

But rewarding illegal behavior is never innocuous. Granting a financial advantage to one group sends the wrong message to those individuals and families who have played by the rules and waited for years in some cases for the opportunity to legally immigrate to this nation and gain their citizenship. And what of the obvious disparity that Mr. Patrick’s action will create, whereby legal residents of 49 other states who may want to attend a public institution of higher education in Massachusetts will continue to pay the full rate, while illegal aliens living in Massachusetts will pay less? Will no one challenge such an obvious injustice?

However Mr. Patrick tries to spin this decision, it does represent a material change in state policy, one that flies in the face of law and fairness, and one that circumvents a Legislature that is overwhelmingly dominated by members of his party.

We believe those lawmakers have a responsibility to assert their independence, and send an unmistakable message to the governor that Massachusetts is not run by one man.