Thread: Texas Holds the Line: Won’t Let Schools Use State Funding for Illegal Immigrant Kids’

Texas Holds the Line: Won’t Let Schools Use State Funding for Illegal Immigrant Kids’ Educations

Lone Star State's stance comes amid debate about what to do with minors who cross into America unlawfully

By Caleb Parke | Sunday, September 2, 2018

Texas won’t allow schools to use state funding to educate immigrant children while they are being housed in federal detention — something that would have cost millions, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) said.

The education agency told the Austin-based charter school group Southwest Key, Promesa Public Schools, that local schools that want to serve migrant students in federal custody cannot “do so with state education funding,” the Houston Chronicle reported.

Southwest Key, one of the largest nonprofits operating shelters for migrant children in Texas, said the agency’s stance jeopardizes partnerships the shelters have formed with at least two traditional school districts, one of which would have funneled millions of Texas tax dollars.
“I think the ones that ultimately are affected adversely are the youth that are in the shelters,” Salvador Cavazos, the nonprofit’s vice president for education services told the paper.

“Because we’re in a partnership, we would have been able to provide additional resources, partner with credit-bearing institutions, provide grades and help them achieve credits go to other public schools.”

Texas officials say it falls under the legal obligation of the federal government to educate the migrant children.

This comes amid the debate of what to do with minors who cross the border illegally.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requires school-age children in shelters to receive at least six hours of structured education during the week.

Texas officials say schools still could voluntarily provide help to shelters.

But school leaders across the state say their schools have been dealing with declining state funding for years, which makes it impractical to pay to provide services to students who aren’t technically enrolled in their districts.

The Supreme Court has previously ruled that all children — regardless of immigration status — are entitled to a public education.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order that stopped family separations at the border in June.

The Supreme Court has previously ruled that all children — regardless of immigration status — are entitled to a public education.

https://www.lifezette.com/2018/09/texas-holds-line-wont-let-schools-use-state-funding-for-illegal-immigrant-kids-educations/

Perhaps Texas is pushing for a new Supreme court ruling. One can only hope.

Originally Posted by Newmexican

Texas Holds the Line: Won’t Let Schools Use State Funding for Illegal Immigrant Kids’ Educations

There should be NO funding for illegal aliens in any of our schools PERIOD!

NOW BOOT THEM OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS AND OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE FUNDING IT EITHER!

THAT IS HARBORING, AIDING AND ABETTING ILLEGAL ALIENS...NO MATTER HOW OLD THEY ARE!

Revisit Plyer vs. Doe. What a burden to taxpayers. What a disastrous impact on providing quality education to children of American citizens. Billions of dollars for languages, tutors, free breakfast and lunch, daycare, health care.

Also, quality teachers are often not chosen if they lack Spanish language skills.

I heard Oakland stopped their after school meal program.

Good grief...since when are we being forced to pay for DINNER now!

Breakfast and lunch is bad enough...PLUS they get welfare and food stamps!

This is out of control. Make your child breakfast, pack them a lunch and make their dinner yourself or do not have them!

Why are we being forced to pay for people to romp in the sack and have kids they cannot feed or take care of! This whole concept to pay for people to boink is ridiculous!

You can romp all you want...YOU pay the bill for it!

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeach

Revisit Plyer vs. Doe. What a burden to taxpayers. What a disastrous impact on providing quality education to children of American citizens. Billions of dollars for languages, tutors, free breakfast and lunch, daycare, health care.

Also, quality teachers are often not chosen if they lack Spanish language skills.

Yes! The court made a ruling on what laws there were. That does not preclude Congress from making new laws that superseded what was ruled on. The courts were not supposed to have the final word. But Congress continues to not step up to the plate!

From American Immigration Council

In June 1982, the Supreme Court issued Plyler v. Doe, a landmark decision holding that states cannot constitutionally deny students a free public education on account of their immigration status.

Schools are generally obligated to provide public education to residences of their area. Legally, children in the country illegally cannot be legal residences.

In more modern application, the states do not have jurisdiction to grant legal status in the United States. Therefore, illegal aliens are mandated to Federal custody, and the Federal government is responsible for all costs, not the states. So while the states can be compelled to educate such illegal alien children, all of the costs, including additional costs for interpreters or bilingual teachers, must be born by the Federal government.

Congress could make law mandating that, I'd like to see SCOTUS overturn that on Constitutional grounds. The Constitution does not guarantee education to everybody. So this was another case of a court finding a right that isn't there.

Plyler vs.Doe was not a unanimous decision. So revisiting that matter might come out with a different conclusion.

Originally Posted by jtdc

Plyler vs.Doe was not a unanimous decision. So revisiting that matter might come out with a different conclusion.

5 to 4


Majority---Brennan, Marshall, Blackmun, Powell, Stevens

Dissent---Burger, White, Rehnquist, O'Connor