Thread: MA: sneak attempt to give tuition breaks to illegal aliens

Deval Patrick: sneak attempt to give tuition breaks to illegal aliens

From this: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politic ... etail.html

[Massachusetts governor] Deval Patrick said he's researching whether he can take unilateral action to allow illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at state colleges.

...Patrick, who has long supported the idea, said his legal team is looking into whether the change can be made without approval from the Legislature.

House lawmakers soundly rejected in 2006 a bill that would let undocumented immigrant students pay in-state tuition.

http://lonewacko.com/blog/archives/007381.html

NOTE: Patrick has also rescinded the 287(g) program after taking office that Romney had instituted during his term. I think we can officially put Patrick into the "ALIPAC IA Hugger Hall of Shame".

Looks like we need to send a few hundred thousand illegals Patrick's way.

Speaking of a legal research team, has Cooper come up with anything yet about illegals in NC community colleges?

Originally Posted by had_enuf

Looks like we need to send a few hundred thousand illegals Patrick's way.

Speaking of a legal research team, has Cooper come up with anything yet about illegals in NC community colleges?

NC Attorney General Roy Cooper has had his head up his...ahhh...errr... posterior backside since the fiasco broke several months ago searching for a way to come out with a ruling that it is actually legal to mandate the presence of illegal aliens in NC community colleges. Fact of the matter is, it is obviously illegal to mandate this, but Cooper has had his head buried deeply in his southern region searching for a way to put the stamp of legal approval on the IA hugging Governor and Community College Administrator.

Thanks, zeezil. I didn't think he'd made his "official" statement yet.

Originally Posted by had_enuf

Looks like we need to send a few hundred thousand illegals Patrick's way.

Speaking of a legal research team, has Cooper come up with anything yet about illegals in NC community colleges?

Please don't. We have enough here.

Illegal Immigrants Could Get In State Discounts






By Matthew Campbell
Governor Deval Patrick is looking to bypass the state legislature and give illegal immigrants in-state discounts at local colleges.

At UMass Amherst, that means students from New Hampshire, Connecticut or any of the other 49 states would pay close to $10,000 a semester, while illegal immigrants, will pay the Massachusetts rate of 1700 dollars a year.

"It's not fair to the current residents of the state of the communities who are trying to achieve so much, get a good education and don't have the money for it," says Bryan Bashaw, an upset student.

Patrick, in line with immigrant advocates, say the students shouldn't be punished for their parents choices, and a local Rep agrees.

"Children of illegal aliens should not be penalized for their parents not fulfilling their obligations to register," says Rosemary Sandlin of Agawam.

Opponents are slamming Patrick saying illegal immigrants should not have the same benefits as legal immigrants or residents for that matter. They worry that bills like these could make Massachusetts a magnet for more illegal immigration.

If Patrick does bypass the legislature, the bill will need to be approved by the eleven member board of Higher Education.


http://www.cbs3springfield.com/news/local/13724592.html

Gov eyes in-state tuition for illegals

By Dan Baer / The Daily Item

Governor Deval Patrick made good on a campaign promise Thursday when he announced he is looking into whether he can avoid the Legislature by unilaterally allowing illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at state colleges and universities.

Patrick's announcement touched off strong reaction on Beacon Hill, where House lawmakers two years ago defied House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi and defeated a bill that would have put all Massachusetts students on an even plain.

"We have some legal research done to see whether it is possible to address that question without legislation," said Patrick Thursday. "The answer to that is by no means clear."

Under the current system, undocumented high school graduates are not eligible for an in-state discount on tuition at the public institutions, even though many students have better grades and test scores than their American classmates.

Students are still allowed to attend schools such as North Shore Community College or Salem State, but because of the large difference in out of state cost, an average of approximately $200 per credit at most schools, the majority of these students cannot afford to attend college.

College administrators say this perceived injustice is actually hurting the state, especially in communities like Lynn, where undocumented students are having a hard time finding work without an education. "It is unfortunate (that students must pay full tuition), because in this case it isn't costing the commonwealth any extra money to do this. They would be paying in-state tuition and in-state fees," said North Shore Community College President Wayne Burton. "We have a high need in this state for educated people in our workforce and we are denying an education to 400 kids a year that would become good workers and good citizens."

According to one estimate, a tuition cut could cost the state upwards of $15 million, but Patrick's camp argues that a Massachusetts Taxpayer's Foundation report from 2006 indicates that a spike in new enrollment would actually generate $2.5 million in revenue.

Burton has long been an advocate for this plan, and says he doesn't believe these students should be punished because their parents failed to take the proper measures to become legal citizens.

Recently, the University of Massachusetts at Lowell said it would look into allowing high school graduates from six New Hampshire communities in-state tuition because they are located in such a close proximity to the school. Burton says if the state allows that exception, they have no reason to prevent undocumented residents from doing the same.
"These kids didn't break any law, they willingly came here with their parents who failed to gain citizenship," he said. "If we can give a special break to somebody in New Hampshire, why can't we do the same for someone who lives in Massachusetts and will become a valuable worker in Massachusetts."

Burton says he frequently receives calls from guidance councilors in Lynn and other North Shore communities touting students who are doing all the right things, but simply cannot afford to pay the out of state tuition rates. Burton suggested the tuition could come with the understanding the student would work toward becoming a citizen, and if that did not happen in a certain amount of time, they would be responsible for paying the difference.

"Think of it as giving them an advance on their citizenship," he said.

Patrick wants Massachusetts to join 10 states, California, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Washington, which offer some illegal immigrants in-state tuition rates.

Opposition to the proposal is rooted in the larger ideological issue of how to address illegal immigration. Opponents say the state shouldn't be making it easier for undocumented residents who could take higher paying jobs from legal residents.

"I'm amazed that he (Patrick) wants to be the sole person responsible for implementation for the wrong policy for Massachusetts," said House Minority Leader Bradley Jones, a North Reading Repuiblican. "We provide free education K-12 for these students, we've already done quite a bit. In doing this we would add incentive for people to come here. Illegal immigrants do pretty well finding out where the best places for them to go are."

http://www.thedailyitemoflynn.com

Comments are being left after this article.
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Tuition for illegals talk of town

Jan 16, 2008

By Debra Glidden and Thor Jourgensen / The Daily Item

LYNN - State Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein Monday urged Gov. Deval Patrick to respect a legislative vote two years ago denying instate tuition to illegal aliens.

Patrick thinks giving illegals a break on public college tuition could bolster higher education enrollment and, in turn, improve the economy. But Reinstein blamed the parents of young people seeking tuition breaks with not meeting citizenship requirements so that their children could qualify for the reduced tuition.

Instate tuition at public colleges like the University of Massachusetts is several times lower than tuition rates for out of state students.

"It's not fair to those trying to save for tuition. I respect the governor but the Legislature spoke on this and was not for it," Reinstein said.

State Rep. Robert Fennell said Patrick's effort to resurrect the tuition issue represents an effort "to usurp the legislative process." He voted against instate tuition for illegal immigrants in 2006.

"We're not trying to deny them the right to go to college. We're saying. 'If you're not a resident, not documented, you have to pay out of state tuition.' It's no fault of their own. Many of them are the children of undocumented immigrants," Fennell said. The five candidates jockeying for the 8th Essex District state representative seat vacated by Douglas Petersen are split on Patrick's proposal.

Attorney Mark Barry, who is an independent, said he sees pros and cons to Patrick's proposal.

"At first blush I would say no to in-state tuition for illegal immigrants," he said.

"However, we do need everyone who is here educated, so I'm kind of in the middle on this one. Let's educate everyone so we don't have illegal immigrants on the street committing crimes because they can't get jobs but we need to tie it to a plan to address their illegal status."
Swampscott Democrat Cesar A. Archilla, who is an attorney, said he views instate tuition as an education, not an immigration issue.

"I understand that it's a pretty contentious issue. I view the issue as an issue of education policy, not immigration policy. I support the governor's position in spirit because as leaders we should be engaged in the business of promoting education and promoting an educated work force, not discouraging education."

Marblehead Democrat Lori Ehrlich, who is a CPA and known as an environmental activist, said she agrees with Patrick's proposal to allow in-state tuition rates for illegals because she doesn't believe in punishing children for the actions of their parents.

Marblehead Republican John Blaisdell, who is a retired police officer and

currently self-employed in the mortgage industry, disagrees. He said the

issue boils down to economics and taxpayers are already paying to educate illegal immigrants in the public school system.

"We can't even fund our public schools," he said. "Now we want to fund their (illegal immigrants) college tuition out of taxpayer dollars. We cannot do that."

Former FBI Agent and Marblehead Republican Tanya DeGenova said as a first generation immigrant she is opposed to Patrick's proposal. She said America needs to embrace all legal newcomers but illegal immigrants do not pay taxes and have no rights to state benefits.

http://www.thedailyitemoflynn.com/artic ... news02.txt

The more we give to Illegal immigrants, the more they expect. It was a mistake to offer free education in American schools to FOREIGN NATIONALS. Now they say we are holding them back from a college education because they don't want to pay the same rates as other FOREIGN NATIONAL students pay.

If we allow this to happen, then ALL FOREIGN NATIONAL STUDENTS FROM ALL COUNTRIES will be ENTITLED to lower tuition rates than American students who prefer to attend a college out of their home state.

Residency requirements are a joke to illegal immigrants. They know how to use the system, breaking the law with false documents, if necessary. No one really checks residency requirements anyway. Just look at the thousands of Mexican kids who cross the border DAILY to attend American schools. These are the kids who will also apply for in-state tuition.