Thread: Minnesota: Lower Tuition For Illegal Immigrants Approved

http://wcco.com/local/local_story_109171806.html

Apr 19, 2006 4:17 pm US/Central

Lower Tuition For Illegal Immigrants Approved

(AP) A key House panel on Wednesday ignored a plea from Gov. Tim Pawlenty and approved lower tuition rates for college students living illegally in the United States.

No one on the House Ways and Means Committee attempted to strip the provision from a higher education bill, even though Pawlenty outlined his opposition in a letter Tuesday. The bill passed the panel on a 26-8 vote.

The provision would let illegal immigrants who graduate from Minnesota high schools and have lived in the state at least three years pay in-state tuition rates at public universities and colleges.

Eric Rodriguez, a Minneapolis high school senior, said the legislation would make it possible for him to go to college. He and his family are living here illegally and can't afford out-of-state tuition, he said.

"Right now, it's just impossible," he said.

But Rep. Marty Seifert, a Republican from Marshall who voted against the bill, said opponents will try to kill the tuition provision when the bill reaches the House floor.

http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twinc ... ily25.html

Pawlenty: Illegal immigrants should not receive in-state tuition rate
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal - 12:09 PM CDT Wednesdayby Lauren WilbertStaff Writer
Gov. Tim Pawlenty urged the Ways and Means Committee in a letter Tuesday to remove a provision in the Higher Education Omnibus bill that grants in-state college tuition rates to illegal immigrants.

Committee members will consider the proposal in a Wednesday afternoon meeting after time ran short in Tuesday's meeting, when the bill was scheduled for consideration, a committee spokeswoman said.

The Republican governor, who is up for reelection this year, said providing in-state rates for illegal immigrants would allow them to receive benefits that students attending Minnesota schools from most other states cannot get.

"In other words, an Iowa high school graduate would not be eligible for in-state Minnesota tuition, but a non-U.S. citizen, who is here illegally, would be," Pawlenty said in the letter. "That is not appropriate and it potentially violates federal law."

He cited the federal Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act from September 1996, which established restrictions on preferential treatment of illegal immigrants for higher education benefits.

California, New York, Texas and Utah are challenging state acts similar to the one Pawlenty is criticizing.

laurenwilbert@bizjournals.com | (612) 288-2107

Quote Pawlenty:
"In other words, an Iowa high school graduate would not be eligible for in-state Minnesota tuition, but a non-U.S. citizen, who is here illegally, would be," Pawlenty said in the letter. "That is not appropriate and it potentially violates federal law."
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I absolutely agree with him. Who would ever support such an outrageous bill? American students are now taking the back seat to illegal aliens? Some people on this committee need to have their heads examined, before they start passing laws that favor children of illegal aliens.

I am sure the people of Minnesota are thrilled about paying for this.

The Governor just needs to veto it, if it passes the legislature.