Thread: TV ads criticize plan to lower tuition for illegal immigrant

Posted on Fri, May. 27, 2005





TV ads criticize plan to lower tuition for illegal immigrants

BY JULIET WILLIAMS

ASSOCIATED PRESS


MILWAUKEE - The battle over immigration issues is heating up in Wisconsin as lawmakers consider a proposal to let illegal immigrants who graduate from state high schools pay in-state tuition to attend public colleges.

Nine states, including several southern border states, have passed similar legislation allowing illegal immigrants to avoid paying costly out-of-state rates.

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle proposed the change as part of his two-year state budget. The proposal is due for debate by the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee -- just as a conservative group has launched television ads slamming the plan.

The Coalition for America's Families said tuition breaks shouldn't be a priority as Wisconsin copes with a $1.6 billion budget deficit. Its 30-second spots, airing in Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay, have a Hispanic woman presenting the group's side.

"We followed the rules. We became citizens," she says. "We work hard to save money so our daughter will be the first one in our family to go to college. We shouldn't have to pay more taxes to fund illegal aliens."

Coalition chairman Steve King of Milton said the ad dramatizes one of many complaints the group has about Doyle's budget, and future ads will focus on others.

Bills on immigrant tuition also are pending in Minnesota and Florida, and New Mexico recently passed legislation allowing the lower tuition for illegals, according to the National Immigration Law Center.

Supporters say the children of illegal immigrants shouldn't be punished for decisions their parents made. They say many bright, successful young Hispanics who grow up in America end up working in low-paying service jobs when they could be professionals and serve as leaders.

Wisconsin's proposal would let illegal immigrants pay in-state tuition rates at UW System schools if:

• They graduated from a Wisconsin high school.

• They have been in the state for at least a year after their first day of high school.

• They give the university an affidavit that they will apply for permanent visas or citizenship as soon as they are entitled to do so.

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/dulut ... 751870.htm

This is an important piece!

I wonder if the states mentioned here are aware of the FED BILL THAT FORCES THEM TO GIVE THE SAME TO AN AMERICAN STUDENT when giving in-state tuition to ILLEGALS?? I believe that we should be educating these State Legislators!!