Thread: DREAM Act Referendum To Be Considered By MD. Court Of Appeals

DREAM Act Referendum To Be Considered By Court Of Appeals

Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Robert Lang

The Maryland Court of Appeals will hear arguments today on whether the November referendum vote on the DREAM Act is constitutional.

Attorneys for CASA of Maryland have argued that the measure cannot legally be brought before voters, because it is an appropriations bill which is not subject to a petition to referendum. They argue a referendum would violate the Maryland Constitution.

The DREAM Act requires community colleges to offer in-county tuition to undocumented immigrants who have graduated high school in the county where the college is located.

The bill passed the General Assembly last year. Opponents submitted more than twice the number of signatures to get the issue on the November ballot.

Lower courts have rejected challenges to the referendum.

The Court of Appeals is expected to rule on this issue by mid-July.

DREAM Act Referendum To Be Considered By Court Of Appeals | Baltimore News | WBAL Radio 1090 AM

What makes these kids so damned special that they can have special rates? What about discount rates for citizen kids? Sorry, this is absurd and illegal kids don't deserve to be catered to while our own kids are struggling. This shouldn't even be up for discussion.

Attorneys for CASA of Maryland have argued that the measure cannot legally be brought before voters, because it is an appropriations bill which is not subject to a petition to referendum. They argue a referendum would violate the Maryland Constitution.

It is a sad but common legal rouse. If you can't have what you want, file a lawsuit and drag it through the courts until you find a judge that will give it to you. the legal system in this country is out of control. JMO

If the courts allow this referendum to be decided by Maryland voters, and we win in such a liberal blue state then it will bring in-state tuition for illegals down forevermore.

W

Are you serious? Do you want your education to be more accessible than having the opportunity to get scholarships, Financial AID, loans from numerous banks, etc. Illegal aliens whom want to study do not have this type of opportunities AND they still have to pay the triple of what a citizen would pay for tuition. We (I speak for myself and the rest of those of illegal kids) did not choose to come here, our parents made us come here for the reason that they want us to have a better future or problems that threatens life itself. Plus, the Dream Act is for those who pay taxes. If we are paying taxes then why can't we have the opportunity to reach our goals. How would you feel if your child was not able to go to college because of decisions you made before. Think about it.

Originally Posted by Hispanic&proud

. . . We (I speak for myself and the rest of those of illegal kids) did not choose to come here, our parents made us come here . . .

Don't blame us for the problems your parents decisions cause you.
Take it up with your parents. They caused it, let them fix it.
"NO MY PROBLEM."

Originally Posted by Hispanic&proud

Are you serious? Do you want your education to be more accessible than having the opportunity to get scholarships, Financial AID, loans from numerous banks, etc. Illegal aliens whom want to study do not have this type of opportunities AND they still have to pay the triple of what a citizen would pay for tuition. We (I speak for myself and the rest of those of illegal kids) did not choose to come here, our parents made us come here for the reason that they want us to have a better future or problems that threatens life itself. Plus, the Dream Act is for those who pay taxes. If we are paying taxes then why can't we have the opportunity to reach our goals. How would you feel if your child was not able to go to college because of decisions you made before. Think about it.

They have a chance still, go home and go to college there. They are NOT Citizens, they have no right to be in the country in the first place. How would you feel if another country came in and took over your country, took the jobs, took the benefits, demanded you learn their language, and demanded that they be treated the same as those who are born and belong in your country? You'd be no different then us, but as usual just another idiot who wants it when it suits them but if it doesn't suit them then its bad.

Get a clue, you have NO rights to anything in our country. You are NOT Immigrants, you are no different then economic terrorists. We welcome immigrants who come legally and want to be part of OUR society and learn and adapt to OUR ways.

Illegal immigrant tuition breaks referendum before high court
Maryland Court of Appeals to decide whether voters will have say on Dream Act

June 12, 2012

Maryland's highest court will soon decide whether voters will get a chance to overturn a break on college tuition costs for illegal immigrants, following a hearing Tuesday on the 2011 law.

The Court of Appeals is expected to rule within weeks on whether the Dream Act will appear on the ballot in November. The question before the seven-judge panel is whether the act is a spending bill, which under state law is not subject to voter review.

If the court decides that the law is exempted from a referendum, some illegal immigrants would qualify to pay in-state tuition at Maryland public colleges and universities. CASA de Maryland, an advocacy organization for low-income Latinos, appealed the case to the Court of Appeals after the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court ruled in favor of allowing the referendum.

"What's at stake is the ability for Marylanders to take any bill to referendum," Parrott said. "What we have is a bill that was illegal to begin with. It goes against federal law to give in-state college tuition benefits to illegal aliens.

"Then you have people who are in this country illegally basically suing to short circuit the [right of] citizens of Maryland to be able to take a bill to referendum and vote on it this coming November."

Parrott led MDPetitions.com in gathering nearly 109,000 signatures to force the Dream Act on the ballot.

Ballot questions must be certified by Aug. 20, making the matter time-sensitive.

Kimberley Propeack, political action and communications director for CASA de Maryland, said she is confident the tuition breaks will ultimately be available.

"Whether we win in the courts or we win in November, we're going to win on this issue," Propeack said. "Most Marylanders consider this a fundamental fairness issue. These are Maryland kids. Their families pay Maryland state taxes, and they should be allowed to pay Maryland in-state tuition."

To be eligible for the in-state rates, illegal immigrants must have graduated from a secondary school in Maryland after attending one for at least three years. They must also prove either they or their parent filed state income taxes.

The illegal immigrants could include those who are seeking permanent resident status, individuals escaping torture or oppression in their homelands, people entitled to special immigration benefits because they are victims of domestic violence, CASA de Maryland's attorneys argued in briefings filed with the court.

Joseph E. Sandler, a lawyer for CASA, was asked by the Court of Appeals judges to explain why the Dream Act is different from other bills that direct policy and involve future monetary decisions.

"Is this unique?" Judge Mary Ellen Barbera asked.

Sandler pointed to a legislative analysis characterizing the bill as one that mandates spending. The document projects that the Dream Act will increase state spending by $778,400 in 2014, based on an estimated 366 full-time students taking the discounted rate. Spending is expected to increase by $1.65 million in 2015 and $3.5 million in 2016.

"Tuition is about money," Sandler told the judges.

Matthew J. Fader, an assistant attorney general, faced off against Sandler in court. He defended the State Board of Elections' decision to allow the referendum to appear on the November ballot.

Fader argued that the law governs policy, not spending.

"It does not assign, set aside, reserve, dedicate, allocate or release any state funds for fiscal year 2013 or any other year, nor does it contain any provision to raise revenue for any purpose," according to a legal brief the attorney general presented to the court.

Paul J. Orfanedes, a lawyer representing MDPetitions.com, told the judges CASA's argument is weak and lacks evidence that any individuals are harmed.

"To bring action you have to have more than a disagreement," he said.

ywenger@baltsun.com

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Maryland Illegal immigrant tuition breaks referendum before high court - baltimoresun.com

Above article added to the Homepage
http://www.alipac.us/content/dream-a...t-appeals-617/

Originally Posted by Hispanic&proud

Are you serious? Do you want your education to be more accessible than having the opportunity to get scholarships, Financial AID, loans from numerous banks, etc. Illegal aliens whom want to study do not have this type of opportunities AND they still have to pay the triple of what a citizen would pay for tuition. We (I speak for myself and the rest of those of illegal kids) did not choose to come here, our parents made us come here for the reason that they want us to have a better future or problems that threatens life itself. Plus, the Dream Act is for those who pay taxes. If we are paying taxes then why can't we have the opportunity to reach our goals. How would you feel if your child was not able to go to college because of decisions you made before. Think about it.

All parents want a better future for their children, but they don't go to another country illegally and demand things of that country. Our immigrants come here with great respect for our country and language. Illegals blatanly disrespect our laws and language.

It is your parents fault that you are in the situation you're in and no one elses. What makes an illegal more important than an immigrant coming here through proper channels? Why should an illegal get in the front of the line and disregard all others?