Thread: MD:Young Illegals Make Emotional Appeal for In-State Tuition

At Maryland hearing on tuition bill, young illegal immigrants make emotional appeals

by Ann Merimow
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 16, 2011; 7:50 PM

They watch music videos on YouTube, crave chicken sandwiches from McDonald's and load up on Advanced Placement classes at school. They have spent most of their young lives in Maryland, striving for success at local high schools. But because they are undocumented immigrants, when it comes time to graduate, they must pay three times the tuition charged to fellow classmates to attend one of the state's public colleges and universities.

Immigration advocates and dozens of students made highly personal appeals to a state Senate committee Wednesday, asking lawmakers to treat these teenagers as they would any other graduate of a Maryland high school: by giving them in-state tuition breaks.

A bill introduced by Sen. Victor R. Ramirez (D-Prince George's) would offer in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants who attended at least two years of high school in Maryland and whose parents pay taxes. Students would have to express an intent to apply for legal status in the United States.

"This bill holds the hopes and dreams of hundreds of students," a Prince George's County high school senior, Jacqueline Midence, told the committee. Midence arrived from El Salvador in 2007 and is part of her school's National Honor Society. "Most of us here today did not have a choice in coming to the United States. The choice that I have made is to contribute."

But with tensions running high nationwide over illegal immigration and fierce competition for admission to the University of Maryland and other four-year institutions, advocates may have to accept a compromise backed by Senate leaders.

"We've got to find a way to accommodate the interests of these constituents no matter how they got here but also recognize that there are people whose grandparents and parents played by the rules and now cannot get into one of Maryland's four-year colleges," said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert).

Ten other states, including California, Illinois, New York and Texas, have in-state tuition measures on the books. A bill similar to the one being considered in Maryland passed both chambers in 2003, but it was vetoed by then-Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R).

Strong opposition remains among Republican lawmakers, who have introduced a series of measures this session that target illegal immigrants.

At the Senate hearing Wednesday, Sen. Bryan W. Simonaire (R-Anne Arundel) said he has reservations about using taxpayer money to subsidize "those who have not come to America properly. There is no law in Maryland prohibiting them from going to college. This bill is just trying to give them a break."

That sentiment was echoed by a group of citizens opposed to the bill who also attended the hearing.

"I have no problem with these kids going to college," said Bernadette Sgorski of Harford County. "But I do not want my taxpayer dollars used to subsidize their tuition."

The measure has the backing of the University System of Maryland, a coalition of religious leaders and county executives Isiah Leggett (D) of Montgomery and Rushern L. Baker III (D) of Prince George's, both of whom testified at the hearing.

"Our investment in our students should not end with a high school diploma," Baker said in prepared remarks.

But even some Democrats are concerned about giving coveted in-state seats to undocumented immigrants because it could deny spaces to other state residents.

"It's important to give opportunities to these kids who are here through no fault of their own," said Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D-Montgomery). "But it makes me uncomfortable to the extent those opportunities come directly at the expense of somebody else who qualifies for admission."

Sen. Joan Carter Conway (D-Baltimore), chairman of the education committee, said she plans to offer a compromise that would provide reduced-rate tuition at community colleges, regardless of immigration status. Students who receive associate degrees could then transfer to a four-year institution and pay in-state rates.

For the students who have the most at stake, the push to change the law is all about affordability.

"Some of us want to be someone in the future, and not just anyone. I don't just want to be working at McDonald's," said Ivette, a Silver Spring high school senior enrolled in AP literature who aspires to be a psychologist. Like other students interviewed, Ivette agreed to talk only on a first-name basis out of concern about potential legal liabilities stemming from being identified.

Many of the students say they cannot rely on their parents for financial help. Their mothers and fathers clean offices, repair houses or work in restaurants for little more than minimum wage.

Karolina, who graduated from a Montgomery high school in 2008, babysits and helps her mother clean houses to cover the cost of classes at Montgomery College. She was inspired to pursue a career in nursing after volunteering at Holy Cross Hospital and hopes to transfer to the nursing program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

For Karolina, the fate of the bill has huge financial implications: the difference between $7,100 for in-state students and $25,000 for out-of-state ones.

Karolina, who arrived from Peru a decade ago, choked up when talking about how she would pay the full fare.
"It's like a big rock that you carry wherever you go," she said.

Federal law prohibits states from providing in-state rates to undocumented immigrants unless these rates are offered to all students. States that provide in-state tuition have gotten around the prohibition by basing eligibility on attendance at a local high school - not residency - an approach upheld by the California Supreme Court.

But there are conflicting practices and legal interpretations within Maryland.

Conservative legal group Judicial Watch sued Montgomery College in January over its practice of offering discounted tuition rates to undocumented immigrants who have graduated from county high schools. The group alleges that the college's policy violates federal law and has cost taxpayers millions in lost tuition fees.

Prince George's Community College, in contrast, makes undocumented immigrants pay full tuition because of a 2006 attorney general's opinion, which is not legally binding. The attorney general said the college "lacks the authority to waive the out-of-county tuition rates for undocumented aliens." State law, the opinion says, "does not afford the board the discretion to determine whether to charge such rates in this situation."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 06279.html

Its funny with so many pro illegal alien articles they are filled with comments on a general consensus that illegals should be mass deported and recieve NO benefits. The only papers with other views seem to be latino papers in spanish and papers in california, and of course the few who moderate out any anti-illegal alien comment.

We've got to find a way to accommodate the interests of these constituents no matter how they got here

They are not "constituents" they are foreign invadersthat need to be deported and convicted for any other crimes they have comitted while they were here.

Another article on this.
I live in Maryland and am DISGUSTED by this!


In-state tuition for illegal immigrants debated
Published 02/16/11

ANNAPOLIS -- Jesus Perez's mother always encouraged him to work hard and go to college, so he could make something of himself. "I want to have a purpose, a profession," Perez, 18, said.

But Perez is undocumented. Born in Mexico, Perez came to the United States when he was 5. In Maryland, he can only attend college if he pays out-of-state tuition, which is often up to three times more expensive than in-state or in-county tuition reserved for legal Maryland residents.

Now, legislators in the Maryland General Assembly are debating a bill that would let students like Perez, who graduate from Maryland high schools but do not have legal status, pay in-state or in-county tuition. Advocates on both sides of the issue are expected to descend on Annapolis Wednesday to testify on the tuition measure before the Senate committee on Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs.

Sen. Victor Ramirez, D-Prince George's, a lead sponsor of the legislation, said the bill would keep Maryland's workforce educated.

"It (going to college) is the dream of many high school students," Ramirez said.

The bill would allow any student to pay in-state or in-county tuition as long as they graduated from a Maryland high school and attended that school for at least two years.

Their parents also need to prove that they had Maryland income taxes deducted from their paychecks for the year before their child graduated.

The bill also requires "that an undocumented student provides to the public institution of higher learning an affidavit stating the individual will file an application to become a permanent resident within 30 days after the individual becomes eligible to do so."

Advocates for in-state tuition for undocumented students call it a fairness issue.

"We consider education the basis to solve social problems," said Susana Flores, communications specialist for Casa de Maryland, an immigration advocacy group.

"We are talking about human beings that through no fault of their own came to this country. They have a right to be educated," Flores said.

But opponents, including House Minority Leader Anthony O'Donnell, R-Calvert, said the bill encourages illegal activity.

"I think it says to people that have come to this country illegally, 'come to Maryland. We'll give you special treatment. We'll give you treatment we don't even give our fellow Americans,'" O'Donnell said.

The bill, he said, would give preference to undocumented students over Maryland citizens.

"We believe that it's increasingly difficult for a Maryland kid to get into a Maryland university, so why should we displace Maryland kids out of those seats with people who are here illegally?" O'Donnell said.

The bill is at the heart of a state and national debate over illegal immigration.

In Maryland, Delegate Pat McDonough, R-Baltimore County, has introduced 16 bills to crack down on illegal immigration. Among them is a bill that would require employers to use E-Verify, the federal electronic system to verify a person's work eligibility, and an Arizona-style bill to require local police to enforce federal immigration laws.

Nationally, 11 states allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition. Last December, the DREAM Act, a federal bill that gave a path to citizenship for undocumented students and recent grads, failed in Congress.

The Maryland General Assembly passed an in-state tuition bill in 2003 but it was vetoed by then-Gov. Robert Ehrlich. The fiscal impact of that bill was estimated to be minimal, since more students going to college, even paying the lower rate, would increase overall revenue for the state.

This time around, proponents of the bill are confident they won't be derailed.

"It's going to be approved. The momentum is there. We have the votes to do it," Ramirez said.

For Perez, getting a college degree would be a dream come true.

"As a student, I don't ask for anything for free," Perez said. "We just want what's in our rights. We won't be taking anything away from anybody ... We want to give back to the community."

Note: Jesus Perez and Susana Flores were interviewed in Spanish and their comments translated to English.


http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/g ... bated.html

So this illegal alien punk is 18 years old, has been in America for 13 years, has gotten a free education in America for 13 years, but had to conduct the interview in Spanish through a translator???????

This is why our country is dying .... because people have lost all touch of common sense ....

A society where too many americans no longer understand that money doesn't grow on trees ... i have an idea , let the supporters of illegal immgrants band together and start a huge fund to pay the difference if this bill passes ...

put YOUR money where your mouths are instead of making me pay for your illegal activities ... if poor ( illegal immgrant name here ) came off the boat last year and now wants to go to college , YOU pay for it ..

"As a student, I don't ask for anything for free," Perez said. "We just want what's in our rights. We won't be taking anything away from anybody ... We want to give back to the community."

Note: Jesus Perez and Susana Flores were interviewed in Spanish and their comments translated to English.

A college education is NOT a right for anyone, especially an illegal alien! In-state tuition costs us taxpayers and I for one, do not want ONE red cent wasted on illegal aliens!!!

They want to go to college and still need an interpreter?!?! WTF??? Go to college in your own countries, GET THE FUDGE OUT!!!!!

For Karolina, the fate of the bill has huge financial implications: the difference between $7,100 for in-state students and $25,000 for out-of-state ones.

There are also huge financial implications for the taxpayers when they need to pick up the difference of $17,900 as a subsidy for her education. So for each illegal in the university, the taxpayers will need to cough up $17,900. How about some sympathy for the citizens who are left holding the bill.

"As a student, I don't ask for anything for free," Perez said. "We just want what's in our rights.

Not free, but a $17,900 subsidy. Someone needs a math class.

BTW, it's in your rights to go home.

"We've got to find a way to accommodate the interests of these constituents no matter how they got here

NO Dipwad! YOU NEED TO ACCOMODATE AN AMERICAN STUDENT- NO MATTER WHAT.

Figures this little gem of "intelligence" is coming from yet another useless DEM.

Originally Posted by jamesw62

For Karolina, the fate of the bill has huge financial implications: the difference between $7,100 for in-state students and $25,000 for out-of-state ones.

"How much is it out-of-country tuition?"