Thread: MA - UMass program might be break for illegal immigrants

House member says UMass program might be break for illegal immigrants

By Matt Murphy
State House News Service / April 1, 2011

A House lawmaker from Gardner is concerned that a University of Massachusetts Amherst plan to offer free in-state tuition to community college graduates with outstanding grades could be a backdoor benefit for illegal immigrants, but state officials say that is not the case.

Representative Richard Bastien, a freshman Republican, raised the issue to community college presidents at a hearing this week and told State House News Service that he worries that the program intended to create a channel for students to earn a four-year degree could have unintended consequences.

“Is this not a backdoor way for illegal immigrants to get free tuition at UMass?’’ Bastien said. “I’m not saying they shouldn’t be able to go. They should just pay for out-of-state tuition.’’

The tuition proposal, announced last week by Governor Deval Patrick and University of Massachusetts Amherst chancellor Robert Holub, would allow community college graduates with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher to enroll at UMass Amherst and have their $1,714 tuition bill waived. Students would still be required to pay $10,018 in annual student fees.

Bastien brought his concern to community college presidents Wednesday when they testified before the Joint Committee on Higher Education.

He said he was told that at Bunker Hill Community College students are required to provide a copy of their passport or birth certificate to prove residency, but on other campuses only a Social Security card and another document, such as a utility bill, are needed.

“We know from identity theft that people can get Social Security cards from anywhere,’’ Bastien said. “So are we doing a good enough job at the community college level to verify that the person matches the Social Security number?’’

Patrick administration and UMass Amherst officials confirmed that the tuition waiver for transfers from community college would only be available to in-state students.

“When students apply to UMass, they have to sign a form that is a legal affidavit swearing they are legal residents,’’ said Daniel Fitzgibbons, a UMass spokesman.

Fitzgibbons said he is not aware of any cases in which the university has gone after a student for fraudulently representing residency status.

“It tends to work the other way more,’’ he said. “Students who have been denied in-state tuition try to get it by providing information they are. I don’t know of instances when we’ve pursued students [for lying], but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.’’

Bastien said the restriction on the tuition break to in-state students does not change his concern that community colleges and public universities might not be doing enough to verify residency and immigration status.

“You could literally come down from New Hampshire, get an apartment for one month, and that would prove your residency status,’’ Bastien said. “I would like to see something that proves more permanency, like a driver’s license. If Bunker Hill can require passports and birth certificates, why can’t everyone else?’’



http://www.boston.com/news/education/hi ... mmigrants/

“I’m not saying they shouldn’t be able to go.


NO, they should NOT be able to attend U S colleges. They should not receive any kind of benefits at the expense of American citizens. You CAN NOT and MUST NOT reward Illegal Immigration in any way, shape, or form or you will only encourage more massive waves of Illegal Immigration. Even "Looking the other way" will encourage more illegal immigration because they know they can come here and not face any penalties for their illegal behavior....