Thread: Check out what will be on Arizona's Ballot!

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... s1103.html

Effects of immigration-related ballot measures debated

Chris Ramirez
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 3, 2006 12:00 AM


Passed by voters two years ago, Proposition 200 was just the opening act.

Next week, voters will be asked to ponder four more immigration-related ballot measures, including one that could force students living in Arizona illegally to pay three times more for college tuition.

Pushed by a Republican state senator from Phoenix, Proposition 300 calls for an end to taxpayer subsidies for education and child-care services for undocumented immigrants. advertisement




Students who were raised in Arizona but never became U.S. citizens would have to pay out-of-state fees to attend public colleges here if the measure passes, which some pre-election polls predict.

"Today, higher education is becoming harder for middle-class families to afford," said Sen. Dean Martin, the measure's sponsor. "We can't blame all of that on illegal immigration, but it definitely plays a role."

The other three immigration-related measures, Propositions 100, 102 and 103, seek to deny bail to suspects in serious crimes who have entered the U.S. illegally, prohibit illegal immigrants from being awarded punitive damages in civil cases and make English the state's official language.

Proposition 300 would affect the largest number of immigrants immediately. It would block undocumented immigrants from accessing a number of state-subsidized programs, including adult education and child care. Those likely to be hardest hit by the measure are students in Arizona's public universities and community colleges, and those taking state-sponsored adult-education classes.


An immigrant's plight
Martin maintains Proposition 300 isn't intended to discriminate against undocumented immigrants or deny them an education. Rather it seeks to treat them "as if they came here from any other state," he said.

Eighteen-year-old college freshman Ari, who asked that her last name not be used because of her concern that she could face legal action, said she can't afford that kind of recognition. She and her family moved from Mexico when she was 9. Ari never applied for American citizenship but is considered an Arizona resident by her college because she attended elementary school and high school here.

She would have to pay out-of-state tuition, perhaps even as early as next semester, if Proposition 300 becomes law.

"College is hard to pay for now," she said. "Immigrant families already work hard to get what they have. I can't pay more."

She spoke with The Arizona Republic in an interview this week. She was among roughly 150 students, mainly Latinos, who last month marched from Tempe to the state Capitol to protest the measure. Many of those students argued that it would limit opportunities for immigrants.

"They've been raised here, they cheer for the Suns, they have MySpace accounts - they're Arizonans," said Jason Santana Ramos, 23, who was born in the United States and opposes Proposition 300. "They're getting punished for a decision they didn't make."

Not all students are against the measure.

Members of the state's College Republicans worry that, if Proposition 300 fails, illegal non-citizens would be "rewarded for breaking the law," while leaving some deserving American students to scramble for money to afford college.

"American citizens are saying 'Hold on, an illegal alien can get in-state tuition . . . but I'm a citizen of this country living in New Mexico or California and I have to pay two or three times the tuition,' " said T.J. Shope, president of the group's Arizona State University chapter. "There's something inherently wrong about that."


Higher cost, higher ed
What isn't in dispute is that the cost of public education in Arizona isn't getting any cheaper. Tuition costs at Arizona's public universities have risen 73 percent in the past four years, and doubled in the past six.

State data suggest that three-fourths of the more than 550,000 students enrolled in Arizona's two- and four-year colleges claimed to be in-state residents. An unknown number of them are believed to be undocumented immigrants, some of whom qualified for state loans, grants, scholarships and other financial aid, if they performed well in high school.

Martin doesn't think state taxpayers should be footing the bill for non-citizens.

"Why are we spending so much money . . . on people who are ineligible to enter our workforce?" he asked.

Tuition at ASU is now at a record high $4,686 for an Arizona resident this year, compared with $15,845 for a non-resident.


A better workforce
Exactly how much is spent each year to subsidize undocumented immigrant students in Arizona is a mystery. That's because colleges don't ask in-state applicants if they are in the country legally. And it shouldn't matter to voters, Rep. Kyrsten Sinema said.

Sinema fought Proposition 300 in the House during the previous legislative session.

"To force some students to give up their dreams and their scholarships because of something they had no control over is just wrong," said Sinema, D-Phoenix.

Proposition 300 may actually may inspire students who were brought to the United States illegally to seek citizenship or some sort of legal status when they reach college age, said Martin, the measure's sponsor.

"Right now, there's no incentive for them to" become legal, Martin said. "Why would anyone start such an arduous process if they're already able to get all the benefits they want without working for them?"


Mixed messages?
Raul Yzaguirre, president and CEO emeritus of the National Council of La Raza, the country's largest Latino civil rights group, disagrees.

Closing doors to immigrants won't make them rush to become citizens, he said. It may have the opposite effect.

Yzaguirre said that, while he opposes Proposition 300, all four immigration-related measures on the ballot send conflicting messages: One trying to make English the official language, while simultaneously denying adult-education classes to immigrants who want to learn it.

"Here we blame them for not assimilating fast enough, and now we're looking to take away the tools they need to assimilate," he said.

"Here we blame them for not assimilating fast enough, and now we're looking to take away the tools they need to assimilate," he said.

La Raza just doesn't get it. They don't want to assimilate at all. They wish to keep a dual citizenship and that just isn't going to fly anymore!

Well, those are certainly steps in the right direction, but here's a better idea, DEPORT ALL ANCHOR BABIES along with H-1Bs, ILLEGALS, L-1s, and their ANCHOR BABIES! Anchor babies, just like illegals and H-1Bs, are nothing more than parasites!

Coto you can't use the word "parasite," you are disrespectful.

OK, well how about LEECHES, MAGGOTS, JACKALS? That close enough?

Thank you, Texas Cow Girl, for posting the article.
Coto

Exactly how much is spent each year to subsidize undocumented immigrant students in Arizona is a mystery.

How much might be a mystery, but their is little doubt that many American parents and/or student are unfairly being forced to pay for that mystery.

Tuition costs at Arizona's public universities have risen 73 percent in the past four years, and doubled in the past six.

How can we ever prevent illegal immigration if we keep giving them incentives to come here? Anyway, I was in AZ at the time Prop 200 was on the ballot and got to vote for it. I'm excited to see what number of votes all these propositions will get. They will be delayed and picked apart of course, but it will give us some figures to use for our side of the arguement, and some comfort to see the numbers of the like-minded voters in AZ.

"They've been raised here, they cheer for the Suns, they have MySpace accounts - they're Arizonans," said Jason Santana Ramos, 23,

Oh??? They cheer for the Suns and have MySpace accounts? Dam, you're absolutely right, they should have all the benefits of citizens and more!!!
That has me sold!
NOT!!!!!
Go back to Mexico and cheer for the Tijuana Taco Eaters and get an internet account with Telnor. Oh, by the way, they have colleges in Mexico too.