Thread: ALIPAC: Scholarship bill raises big immigration questions

Scholarship bill raises big immigration questions

By ZACHARY COLMAN
The Associated Press
Posted May 13, 2011 @ 03:55 PM
Last update May 13, 2011 @ 04:47 PM

SPRINGFIELD —

A proposal to provide college scholarships to the children of immigrants, even illegal immigrants, is forcing Illinois lawmakers to consider whether it's appropriate to lend a helping hand to people who are in the country improperly.

Many legislators express the need to make a bad situation better. Illegal immigrants are a fact of life, they say, and giving them a shot at an education through privately funded scholarships will be better for Illinois in the long run.

Some Republicans are taking heat for supporting the pending Illinois Dream Act, partly because constituents confuse it with federal legislation by the same name that would have given some illegal immigrants a path to citizenship. Other constituents simply believe the Illinois scholarship program is misguided and might deepen the lure of Illinois as a safe haven for illegal immigrants.

Sen. Dan Duffy, R-Lake Barrington, said he's getting angry phone calls and emails.

"The facts are that there are immigrants here. And the facts are that it would be better if the immigrants here are properly educated," said Duffy, who supports the legislation.

The Dream Act creates a panel to raise private money for scholarships to students with at least one immigrant parent, legal or illegal. The students themselves also could be in the country illegally.

To qualify for the money, students must already be enrolled in or planning to attend college, and they must have a federal taxpayer identification number proving they work and pay federal taxes.

The legislation, which is in the Illinois House after passing 45-11 in the Senate, also lets children of immigrants join state-run college savings programs. Only legal Illinois citizens may currently draw from the savings program. It also requires high school counselors to make students aware of the scholarship fund and savings program.

It has no impact on a person's immigration status.

William Gheen, president of American Legal Immigration Political Action Committee, believes illegal immigrants should not receive any sort of help getting into college.

Gheen noted federal law prohibits employing illegal immigrants but the Illinois measure would provide scholarships only if they have jobs. In other words, he said, the proposal is based on the idea of illegal activity.

Some, such as Sen. Sue Rezin, also argue students in the country might end up taking college spots that otherwise would go to citizens. She said that would mean spending tax dollars through public universities on illegal immigrants.

"A lot of legislation starts and just opens the door and becomes a state funded issue," the Morris Republican said.

Although the scholarship money would be raised from private sources, a government panel would oversee it — which troubles critics who think the government should do nothing that might encourage illegal immigration.

Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, agreed Illinois is something of a haven for people in the country illegally. Many have lived here for years, following state laws, working hard, paying taxes and attending state schools.

"There is not going to be a scenario where those people are going to end up being deported," Syverson said. "So how do you address all those?"

He said the country needs immigration reform at the federal level and that immigrant communities must help authorities crack down on people who commit serious crimes. In the meantime, Syverson said, Illinois should help students save for college and get scholarships no matter what their immigration status.

This isn't the first time Illinois lawmakers have debated how far the state should go in accommodating people who are here illegally. In 2003 and again in 2007, they considered providing drivers licenses or an equivalent to people in the country illegally. The idea failed both times.

Several years ago, Illinois became one of the first states to offer in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants. And Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn recently removed Illinois from the Department of Homeland Security's Secure Communities program, which is supposed to target serious criminals but has been used to deport people for misdemeanor offenses. Quinn's spokeswoman said he supports the legislation.

An advocacy group estimates the scholarship bill would aid 95,000 Illinois students. Some probably have stories similar to Cindy, a 22-year-old in her last semester at University of Chicago who did not want to use her last name for fear of deportation.

Her family left Mexico for Chicago when she was 3. Cindy's parents told her from the beginning to work hard, get scholarships and go to college.

Even with a degree from one of the most prestigious universities in the world, Cindy's illegal status limits her job options. Still, she believes providing scholarships regardless of immigration status will help everyone.

"This will create a population that deserves to be here and wants to give back to a country that we consider our home," Cindy said.

The 2010 U.S. Census found Illinois' white and black populations were basically flat while the Latino and Asian population jumped by 33 percent and 39 percent, respectively.

The sponsor of the Dream Act, Sen. Iris Martinez, said Illinois would be smart to make sure all those people have a chance to learn and succeed, no matter what their immigration status.

"I'm really sad that the other side doesn't understand that these children are brought here by no fault of their own," said Martinez, D-Chicago. "How can we not put aside that difference and be able to say that child should at least be able to go to college?"

___

The bill is SB2185.


http://www.pjstar.com/free/x1539866166/ ... -questions

Let me get this straight. The Illinois legislature is creating a fund to give illegal aliens and immigrants scholarships?!! What about scholarships for American Kids?!!! What about the American Kids??!!! Why would any legislature use its powers to give scholarships to people who aren't even supposed to be in the country instead of US citizens??!!!!!!!!

What in the hell is going on around here?! Every American in Illinois needs to protest this action.

Makes me so mad !!! If we had scholarships for "american kids" ...especially those with lighter skin.....we'd be called RACISTS!

Originally Posted by cavmom

Makes me so mad !!! If we had scholarships for "american kids" ...especially those with lighter skin.....we'd be called RACISTS!

How can this even be legal??!! How can a law like this that excludes American Kids be legal??!!

14th Amendment:

Amendment XIV

Section 1.

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

"No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States."

abridge:

a·bridge (-brj)
tr.v. a·bridged, a·bridg·ing, a·bridg·es
1. To reduce the length of (a written text); condense.
2. To cut short; curtail. See Synonyms at shorten.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/abridged

Now listen up you ignorant globalist two-faced two-timing moronic traitors. Under the US Constitution, NO STATE can abridge, shorten or curtail the privileges of American Kids to attend our colleges and universities by handing off their seats to foreign nationals, let alone, foreign nationals in our country illegally, let alone with scholarships funded with taxpayer or private funds legitimized by state legislation.

You can not do this in the United States. The 14th Amendment to the US Constitution specifically prohibits it, when common sense and loyalty to one's own citizens weren't enough to prevent depriving US citizens of the futures and opportunities of their own country.

NOW GET SOME CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYERS ON THIS AND SHUT. IT. DOWN.

How is this not aiding and abetting an illegal alien(s)?

Originally Posted by Mickey

How is this not aiding and abetting an illegal alien(s)?

That's exactly what it is in addition to abridging the privileges of US citizens in the process in direct violation of the 14th Amendment.

Related Thread Here

Scholarship bill raises big immigration questions

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-238051-illinois.html

Related:

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-238051-springfield.html

Someone needs to sue the scholarship fund and/or the state for discrimination against non-Latinos and legal immigrants. If LaRaza can scream racism, so can we.

Added to Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-6299--0-0.html

I was brought to this country as a 4 year child adopted by American parents. I had to go through the citizen ship studies and stood in the line of adults to swear my allegiance to this country when I was eight years old. That was one of my proudest high lights in my life to this day. When I came here I only spoke my native tongue. I went through several years of speech therapy in grade school to correct this. I no longer speak my native language. I speak the language of my country and her people …English. I expect any other person coming to this country to speak English also.

I have met many naturalized citizens in my time and every one of them was enthusiastic to be able to say they are now an America. This is a defining moment in our lives when we became a member of this great nation. Unlike those who steal in and accost our resources by slipping onto our welfare roles and having kids to get extra payouts while hubby, who’s wife does not use his name, goes to work and becomes wage earner and a welfare recipient house hold. In the mean time US bank and others will loan them money to purchase newer cars and even homes.

So families live in my town purchasing homes and newer vehicles and living the life I should be living and they do not have the legal right to be here, nor do they even fly an American flag. They hang Mexican flags all over the place and we are supposed to be mindful of hurting their feeling.
I am in my early 50's. I volunteered to serve this country out of duty to what she gave me… an Ideal and a constitution to fight for.

I now find myself sidelined by a company I formerly worked for due to age. It’s not the reason given but when your told they can’t see a fit for you and the company past 5 years down the road and your replacement is a kid 25 years younger than you then what else do you ascribe it too.

My field of computers I.T. is becoming notorious for laying off people in the 40 to 50’s and replacing them with kids who will work for half of what we got paid and a reduced benefit package. Because I am a displaced worker I can try for a program that will pay up to $7500 to go to school. So I can start school but I will not be able to afford to complete it, unless I go into debt with our illustrious private mafia banking and no guaranty’s of job placement or a way to pay off the debts I will be saddle with and have to pay out of my Social security until I die.

So we are supposed to give kids who were brought here illegally and most likely raised on our tax payer benefits ...more entitlements!! to replace me!! It would be cheaper to send them back to Mexico and pay for them get a degree and put them in line for citizenship after completion of a 4 year degree than just handing out scholarships to those who are not legal to be here.

If I expressed my true feeling here about this dog and pony show called our government, I would be put done like a rabid dog since we vets have been declared undesirables by our illustrious home land overlords. I have heard of this before with a country called Germany, the country of my birth. Instead of getting rid of undesirables, this Fuehrer and gestopple are flooding this country with undesirables to reduce her to third world status.

Do you think these illegals will care if they are handed guns by our government and told to round up the populations for camps. What are we to them … old white people who stole their land? …Reconquista?