Thread: Council takes stand against tuition break (MA)

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/local ... leid=98342

Council takes stand against tuition break
By Michelle Muellenberg / Daily News Staff
Tuesday, May 10, 2005

MARLBOROUGH -- Hoping to send a message to state and federal leaders, the City Council last night approved a resolution opposing a plan that allows children of illegal immigrants to attend state colleges at in-state tuition rates.

The measure -- that requires such students to have lived in the state for three years, have graduated from Massachusetts high schools and be in the process of seeking citizenship or permanent residency -- was approved by a legislative committee last week.

Councilor at large Arthur Vigeant said in the past the council has stayed out of several state matters, but it is time to take a stand.

"We are a country of rules. This is one of the rules," Vigeant said.

While the plan is being debated at the state level, the matter affects cities and towns dealing with the financial costs of illegal immigrants.

"It does affect our local economy...our local budgets," Vigeant said.

The city's illegal immigration population puts more strain on the city's public safety department, overcrowded schools and housing, he said.

The limited funds the city has should be spent on people who are legal residents, Vigeant said.

"There is only so far this money can go," he said. "We have to take care of the residents we have that are legal citizens first. It's up to us to take a stand and say something needs to be done."

Vigeant said he welcomes with open arms immigrants who have gone through the process of becoming citizens, but rules need to be followed. "You can't reward someone for breaking the rules," he said. "There needs to be consequences."

Ward 5 Councilor Maura Navin Webster, the only dissenting vote, said she understood the purpose of the resolution but said there are problems with it that should be clarified.

She said students who would qualify for the legislation must be in the process of applying for citizenship or permanent residency. During that process, a person is not counted as illegal. Those eligible for the legislation, therefore, are not technically illegal, she said.

Webster also said the plan could bring in more than $1 million to the state's public universities.

"Receiving in-state tuition is better than receiving no tuition as far as our schools are concerned," she read in a written statement. She also added the eligible students would have to follow the same process as other students by getting a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma.

"If we are going to get involved in federal and state issues that we have no jurisdiction over in times when our city needs our attention, I would rather see us focus on things we can do to remedy the situation our federal lack of immigrant enforcement has left us with," Webster said. "With this, we are basically saying you have no incentive to stay, become legal residents and citizens, continue your education and become productive members of society."

Ward 7 Councilor Richard Towle questioned whether the proposed resolution had accurate details, or if the council should hold off on approving it.

Vigeant said the information came from state Rep. Marie Parente, D-Milford, and followed up with various other organizations.

Parente has been a leader in the battle against the tuition plan.

(Michelle Muellenberg can be reached at 508-490-7453 or mmuellen@cnc.com)

Some people are beginning to gain much needed COURAGE.

We may not be there yet, however, we're coming close to CRITICAL MASS. When that finally occurs and I pray it's before CAFTA comes to Congress, the dam will burst upon our putrid Elected Con-Officials.