Monday, February 02, 2009

Lawmaker: Illegal immigrants should get in-state tuition

It certainly seems that when the kids are educated in the state's schools, that they should be able to go to college with in-state tuition. Otherwise they can't afford to go at all, this way the state is getting at least some tuition paid. DP

By Eli Stokols

DENVER -- A bill proposing to grant in-state tuition to all Colorado high school students, including illegal-immigrants, was introduced Friday by Sen. Chris Romer.

"For us to be an economic success, we need to make sure all these kids can get into college," said Romer, D-Denver. "And right now a small number of students can't go to college because their immigration status."

To be eligible for the reduced tuition, undocumented students would have to have graduated from a Colorado high school or received their GED within the past five years. They also must have been enrolled in a Colorado public or private high school for at least three years.

"I firmly believe we shouldn't punish children for the decisions of adults," Romer said. "These are exactly the kids we want to incentivize to work hard, stay in school, not drop out, and help us build a great economy for Colorado."

Romer's argument may be more likely to succeed in these trying economic times. In fact, he's already touting support from Republican businessmen around the state, including Dick Monfort, a Weld County cattleman, chairman of the University of Northern Colorado Board of Trustees and the owner of the Colorado Rockies.

"Candidly, right now I'm really struggling getting any Republican support [at the Capitol]. But I have hundreds of Republican businessman who know that this is exactly what Colorado needs," Romer said.

Of course, it's Republican lawmakers who will help determine the fate of Romer's bill.
Be sure to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.

1 comment:

Renata Writes said...

I understand there is an "incentive," so you believe... however, there isn't. These people are ultimately kicking out seats from under in-state tuition eligible LEGALS students with slightly lesser grades than the illegal. I also understand that this country is made up immigrants, my parents were immigrants but when they came into this country they assimilated and became American. Many of these illegals, i.e. Mexicans, refuse to even speak English. No, there isn't a national language - in writing, but there is a common language among us Americans and that is English, NOT Spanish. The illegals steal the seats from legal students, get their education and then what??? They can't work here. If they go to the immigration office to even begin the process of becoming legal, they will get deported. This does noting for America other than build up the bank account of the state allowing this to happen. Lets be realistic, allowing illegals to even attend secondary schools is bad enough let alone allowing them to pay in-state tuition. I had to leave California because there were too many illegals that got in before me. Ironically, I was accepted to a better school in Chicago. I love living here and I love my new life, but if I had a choice, I would have stayed in California to complete my education. Now I'm wasted money because of the illegal Mexicans that took my seat. Lets not forget that the universities also are starting to accept more out-of-state students to up the money they would have lost since they are charging the illegals less. This also means even less in-state LEGAL students. Also.. why isn't anyone asking "What part of 'illegal' don't you understand?" These laws that are being passed are literally going against federal law that tells us illegals may NOT get any discounts and benefit in secondary schools. They have money also, lets not forget. They just make it seem that they don't to save even more money. I've experienced this first hand, living in southern California. Do not be so naive or so nice to these people. They are sucking America dry.