Thread: Perry to protect undocumented immigrant tuition

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4465044.html -
Jan. 11, 2007, 7:07PM

Perry to protect undocumented-immigrant tuition


By CLAY ROBISON and R.G. RATCLIFFE
Houston Chronicle Austin


AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry said today he will oppose efforts to repeal a law, which he signed six years ago, giving tuition breaks to undocumented immigrants attending state universities.

``I'm for leaving the law like it is because I think it serves a good purpose,'' he said.

The governor also said he is willing to consider legislation to expand the death penalty to repeat child molesters, even if the victim isn't killed, but stopped short of endorsing the proposal.

``Let's have the debate and see how they do it,'' he said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle.

Perry said he and the media might have failed to adequately educate the public about the tuition law, which has drawn fire during the ongoing debate over illegal immigration.

State legislators have filed at least four bills to repeal the measure, which grants lower, in-state tuition to the children of immigrants who have lived in Texas at least three years, have graduated from a Texas high school and plan to become citizens.

Opponents say it is unfair to give the financial break to illegal immigrants when many U.S. citizens who are non-Texas residents have to pay more to attend college here. Supporters say it helps immigrants become productive citizens.

``The only way that you can be eligible for that in-state tuition is if you are in the process of getting your citizenship. If you're not in the queue, working towards getting your citizenship, you're not eligible for it,'' Perry said.

``I think that's been highly overlooked in this debate.''

However, under the law, students do not have to actually have applied for citizenship - they only have to promise that they will.

On other immigration-related issues, the governor repeated his vow to seek $100 million to strengthen security along the border, urged the federal government to enact a guest worker program and said he opposes legislation to remove citizenship rights from the Texas-born children of immigrants.

``First and foremost, it (the birthright proposal) is unconstitutional,'' he said.

The governor said Washington's failure to enact a satisfactory immigration policy was to blame for a wave of inflammatory and anti-immigration initiatives, including the city of Farmers Branch's attempted crackdown on apartment landlords who rent to undocumented workers.

``My hope is this new Congress will take seriously its duty of securing our border with Mexico and creating a guest worker program where we identify individuals who want to come to America, work, help take care of their families (and) help strengthen our economy,'' he said.

Perry predicted that state laws against predators who attack children will be strengthened. Sexual assaults that result in murder already can be prosecuted as capital crimes in a state that leads the nation in executions.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and some lawmakers want to make repeat attackers of children eligible for the death penalty even if the victim doesn't die, which would mark a significant change in criminal justice policy and likely prompt a court challenge.

``There are some clear concerns that individuals that do harm to our children, in particular sexual predators, cannot be rehabilitated, and there are only two appropriate ways of meting out that justice,'' Perry said.

``One is keeping them in prison for the rest of their lives, and the other one is the death penalty. And I think those are legitimate options.''

On another issue, Perry said he will seek emergency legislative approval of a constitutional amendment to provide property tax relief for senior citizens, similar to what other homeowners were provided in a tax tradeoff approved by lawmakers last spring.

The earlier tax swap - enacted to comply with a court order for changes in the school finance system - included phased-in reductions in school operating taxes. Many homeowners, however found their first round of cuts all but wiped out by rising property values.

Homeowners older than 65 whose tax rates already were frozen didn't get additional relief because the change would have required a constitutional amendment, which Perry and legislative leaders feared would have taken too much time during the special session.

Now, Perry proposes that such an amendment be approved for Texans to vote on in May.

clay.robison@chron.com

r.g.ratcliffe@chron.com

I'm really getting disheartened. So many politicians have been bought and paid for by the OBL.

It's anarchy. Has everyone forgotten right from wrong!

I guess Gov. Perry is a wannabe Bush. Geez, I feel so sorry for Texans - let me correct that - I feel sorry for our country because of Perry and those like him. I know you ALIPAC Texans didn't have much to choose from in November, but that is no excuse for not straightening this boob out - you've had years. Please fix Gov. Perry, because he is broken!

I'm originally from Texas (born there), which makes it difficult for me to talk down the state, but I owe no such loyalty to Perry!

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Gov, Perry is doing the "Texas 2 Step", he`s 2 faced, plays two sides against the middle, and plays 2 sides of the coin.
What a 2 timer.