More Illegal Immigrants in Colleges
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory. ... an/3278645
July 23, 2005, 7:20PM
More illegal immigrants in colleges
Enrollment has increased ninefold since the state allowed them to pay lower tuition
By PATRICK MCGEE
Fort Worth Star-telegram
Texas public colleges have seen a spike in enrollment of illegal immigrants since state lawmakers approved a measure allowing them to pay lower in-state tuition rates.
The number of illegal immigrants attending public institutions, particularly community colleges, has increased ninefold since the change was adopted, according to Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board data.
In 2001, Texas became the first state to offer in-state tuition and state financial aid to illegal immigrants. Eight other states, including California and New York, have since adopted similar measures.
State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, who co-sponsored the Texas legislation, said she's pleased to see the strong enrollment patterns.
"Every single student that gets a higher education is going to be able to earn more. That's a great big economic stimulator," she said.
The law also allows these students to be eligible for state financial aid, but it is not known how many benefited from state loans and grants.
Group opposes fees
Late last year, the state comptroller reported that more than 82,000 freshmen were denied state grants because there was not enough money for all eligible students.
Groups such as the Federation for American Immigration Reform, based in Washington D.C., oppose giving such opportunities to illegal immigrants.
"These are people illegally in the country who are not entitled to work legally, so investing higher education in them makes no sense," said Jack Martin, the organization's special project director.
"Secondly, because admission spaces are limited, Texas residents are being denied entry, ... and third, it makes no sense to ask Texas taxpayers to support with in-state tuition persons who do not belong in the country," he said.
There were 3,700 illegal immigrants enrolled and paying in-state tuition at Texas' public institutions of higher education by fall 2004, according to the state data. In fall 2001, the first semester this benefit was available, 393 illegal immigrants paid in-state tuition.
Houston has high growth
The growth could be sharper because it appears that some institutions did not report the enrollment of these students to the state. The highest growth was at the University of Houston, which enrolled 146 illegal immigrants in fall 2004, and Dallas Community College, which had 744 enrolled.
Texas residents would pay an average of $4,847 in tuition and fees for the coming school year at public universities, far less than the $12,927 charged out-of-state residents. At community colleges, the average in-state cost would be $1,631, compared with $3,405 for nonresidents, according to the coordinating board.
University officials say they are just obeying the law by admitting illegal immigrants.
"Being a public university, we're bound by state law to admit those students if they meet our academic requirements," A&M spokesman Lane Stephenson said.
Augustine Garza, deputy director of admissions at the University of Texas at Austin, said his office does not look at these students' applications differently. "We treat them all exactly the same," he said. "If it's a law, we would be obligated to follow the law."
Most illegal immigrant students are enrolled in community colleges.
Edgar, an 18-year-old Fort Worth resident who came here illegally from Mexico with his family six years ago, has taken two semesters at Tarrant County College and plans to enroll again for the fall semester.
Edgar, who asked that his last name not be used, said his high school guidance counselor told him that he could pay in-state tuition and apply for state financial aid.
"I want to have something I can offer to my children, you know, to my wife. That's why I'm going to school right now," he said. "If I don't get a career, where am I going to be at? Am I going to be working at McDonald's all my life?"
Equal opportunity
Edgar said he received enough state grant money to pay nearly all of his tuition.
He said he's aware of views such as that of Federation for American Immigration Reform but said he doesn't believe anyone should be held back. He said many Americans pass up the chance to go to college, so the opportunities should go to the willing.
Melissa Lazarin, an education-policy analyst for the National Council of La Raza, said her organization is working to reintroduce a bill to Congress that would make federal financial aid to college available to illegal immigrants.
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, has filed a similar bill and said illegal immigrant students shouldn't be punished for being brought here illegally when they were young.
Re: More Illegal Immigrants in Colleges
Quote:
There were 3,700 illegal immigrants enrolled and paying in-state tuition at Texas' public institutions of higher education by fall 2004, according to the state data. In fall 2001, the first semester this benefit was available, 393 illegal immigrants paid in-state tuition.
An INCREASE of 10 timex in the illegal alien enrollment and I'll bet they are ALL on financial aid.
82,000 STUDENTS WERE DENIED EDUCATION IN TEXAS--how many of these were American Children? I'll bet every single one of them.
Quote:
Edgar said he received enough state grant money to pay nearly all of his tuition. He said he's aware of views such as that of Federation for American Immigration Reform but said he doesn't believe anyone should be held back. He said many Americans pass up the chance to go to college, so the opportunities should go to the willing.
An illegal alien has stolen a job at McDonalds from an American, has children he expects to steal more jobs from more Americans, has stolen financial aid form Americans, stolen a seat in college from an American, and plans to work his way up to steal a big job from an American. And he has the "audacity" to say, "so the opportunities should go to the willing"?
What about the 82,000 American Children JUST IN TEXAS that were willing but who were DENIED seats in Texas colleges and universities because there wasn't room and what about the 3,300 that lost their seat in Texas because they were displaced with illegal aliens???!!!!
When are WE going to stop this NONSENSE??
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU TEXANS?? It's your KIDS we're talking about here!!
We better stop this soon because every semester that these outrageous laws for in-state tuition and financial aid for illegals exists, the FUTURE of American Children IS Being Left Behind in the DIRT!!
Quote:
Melissa Lazarin, an education-policy analyst for the National Council of La Raza, said her organization is working to reintroduce a bill to Congress that would make federal financial aid to college available to illegal immigrants.
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LA RAZA IS AN ANTI-AMERICAN RACIST FOREIGN INVADER. SHUT THEM DOWN; JERK THEIR 501 C 3 STATUS; AND PROSECUTE THEM FOR VIOLATING US IMMIGRATION AND US TAX LAW!! There is no question they are violating the lobbying statute of the 501 C 3 Internal Revenue Code; the mission of a 501 C 3 tax exempt which means publicly funded organization; and US Civil Rights Laws.
DON'T SPEND, SAVE!! Drop their funders to their knees. Whatever it is you think you need right now, most of it you don't. Just wait, buy it later. What you do buy, only buy from ALIPAC members and True American Companies that do not hire illegals, do not fund National Council of La Raza, do not support CAFTA, are not Globalists, and that do not cater or loan to illegal aliens for any reason. STOP THEM IN THEIR TRACKS, take their play money away from them.
AND DO IT NOW!!
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