By David Stubblebine/ Commentary
Wednesday, November 23, 2005

The Massachusetts legislature is currently considering whether to provide in-state tuition to illegal aliens. This is the same controversial and divisive issue that Gov. Mitt Romney vetoed last year. Allowing illegal aliens to go to in state college at a discounted rate would be a very foolish and bad idea. It would reward illegal behavior and encourage more illegal aliens to reside in Massachusetts, further straining our education, health care and law enforcement resources.

A few other states have passed similar bills and are now regretting it. Utah is one of eight states that passed a similar law and Utah legislators are now concerned over a potential $32 million liability because federal law requires that if you give in-state tuition to illegal aliens, you must give it to all citizens and legal immigrants. This means all out-of state students attending Utah public colleges would be eligible for the lower in-state rate and that comes to $32 million. They are also concerned because it discriminates "against U.S. citizens and lawfully admitted foreign students."

In Massachusetts, there are 12,500 out-of-state students attending state public colleges. With an average differential between the in-state and out-of-state rate of approx. $7,500, that comes to a potential liability of more than $90 million. This one bill could become a budget buster for our state.

The principal argument made by those favoring the measure here in Massachusetts is that these students were brought here as infants, they have gone through the public school system, and how can you now deny them their dream of a college education and a place as a productive member of society?

The emotional appeal is all the illegal alien advocates have and unfortunately logic argues heavily against it. Even with a college degree, they still will not be able to legally work. To ask taxpayers to further subsidize their education when they do not have "legal presence" and cannot get jobs is not a good use of taxpayers' money. Advocates have been leading these students down the primrose path to a dead end; there will be no jobs. The bill itself is seriously and dangerously flawed. A student can qualify by promising to file an application for citizenship or permanent residency "at the earliest opportunity." When is that? Next week? Next year? Ten years from now? Filing an application is no assurance of being granted a change of legal status. According to a Department of Homeland Security Web site, only a third of those applying will end up with legal status.

This is like giving someone a driver's license before they take the test to drive. Giving in-state tuition is a bad idea, a flawed proposal and will not result in jobs. It could easily become a budget buster for our state. It takes away spots in our colleges, along with scholarship money and state financial aide from deserving American children and legal immigrants.

I know that state Rep. Susan Pope, R-Wayland, has wisely come out against this but unfortunately state Sen. Susan Fargo, D-Lincoln, was a co-sponsor of last year's very similar bill that was vetoed. All parents who are concerned for their own kids' place in college should call Fargo's office and demand that she drop her support for this dangerous bill.