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Bad marks for aliens tuition plan
Top Headlines Lawmakers slam report on granting in-state rate
A governor's council has developed 131 recommendations on how to better integrate immigrants into society, but one seems to be getting most of the attention and most of the criticism: a proposal to grant illegal immigrants in-state tuition at state colleges.The idea was rejected by the Legislature in 2006 and is getting a frosty reception this time around. "I don't know what is unclear about the word illegal," said state Rep. Betty Poirier, R-North Attleboro. "It's preposterous." Poirier said giving the children of illegal immigrants the lower tuition that Massachusetts residents enjoy would be rewarding unlawful entry into the United States and could displace potential students who are citizens. State Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham, a candidate for U.S. Senate, blasted the proposal. "Government should strictly enforce the law, not ignore it with a wink and a nod or, even worse, pass laws that condone illegal behavior," he said in a press release. Gov. Deval Patrick has asked that the focus on the council's report be on all of the recommendations, but so far the tuition issue has dominated. Advocates of the change say children should not be punished because their parents came here illegally. Eva Millona, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Coalition and co-chairwoman of the governor's council, said it would benefit both the students and the state to grant the in-state tuition. She said many immigrant children do not go to college because of its high cost, and that prevents them from getting higher paying jobs. An estimated 300 undocumented students would attend college if they got the less expensive tuition and that would contribute $2.5 million a year to the state college system, she said. "It's a win-win for the student and the state," she said. Massachusetts state universities charge in-state students $9,704 a year, while out-of-state students pay $22,159. But, state Rep. Bill Bowles said the Legislature is unlikely to look kindly on the tuition proposal. "I don't think there is a whole lot of appetite to supply them with in-state rates," he said. Bowles, D-Attleboro, said the proposal might have a better chance if it was aimed at just undocumented children who have gone through the school system for several years and are on a path toward becoming citizens. Millona said the idea - like all the recommendations in the report issued this week - came about as a result of a lengthy "civic engagement" process that included hearings throughout the state and roundtable discussions. She said the tuition issue came up time and again at the hearings. Twelve other states, including Texas, Utah and Oklahoma, allow undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition at their state colleges, she said. Another proposal drawing criticism is one calling for the state to lobby the federal government to lift a ban on illegal immigrants getting drivers' licenses. "Adamantly opposed," state Sen. James Timilty said when asked his position. "Illegal immigrants should go back to their country and come back through the front door at the JFK federal building," said Timilty, D-Walpole. Millona said the recommendations in the report are aimed at helping immigrants become full participants in society by getting them more involved in the economy and civic life. She said 14 percent of the state's population and 17 percent of its workforce is foreign born. The latest U.S Census data shows there are one million immigrants in Massachusetts, and they pay $1.2 billion in income taxes. Millona said a key proposal from the council is for expanded access to English classes for immigrant adults and children. "We hope that English acquisition will be a priority," she said. Joan Ricci, executive director of The Literacy Center in Attleboro, said her agency would like to service more immigrants by expanding its English language offerings. However, she said there is already a waiting list two to six months long. More classes cannot be provided without more money. Millona said her committee hopes the money can be found, but Bowles said the state budget is already stressed and social services are being cut.
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Relaaax wrote on Dec 16, 2009 7:43 PM:
Northmass3 wrote on Dec 16, 2009 10:55 AM:
Realist- Why should children of illegal immigrants benefit from their parents illegal actions? Could it be equated to someone robbing a bank and then giving the money to his kids to spend? Should the kids be held accountable for taking and spending the money, considering they knew their father had robbed the bank? "
realist wrote on Dec 16, 2009 9:34 AM:
Lucky1 wrote on Dec 15, 2009 3:02 PM:
jose21 wrote on Dec 9, 2009 4:33 PM:
Northmass3 wrote on Nov 30, 2009 3:04 PM:
The way i see it, we should deport the illegal kids back with the parents. Send em all packing to wait in line like all those before you.
Say a friend of yours shows up at your door with a brand new car. You both go for a ride. next thing you know your getting pulled over, and both of you are getting arrested because your buddy forgot to mention that he just stole the car before picking you up... Guess what? you both are getting charged with stealing the car!
There are soo many instances of guilty by association, that this criminal illegal alien one is a no brainer.
You say think of their children, well i say What about OUR children! "
lucky1 wrote on Nov 26, 2009 5:49 PM:
jillk wrote on Nov 25, 2009 8:31 PM:
Graceful wrote on Nov 25, 2009 12:21 PM:
Or they can work there way thru with no help like many of us legals had to do it. "
relaaax wrote on Nov 24, 2009 12:02 AM:
One of my friends married her her boyfriend right out of high school so that he could gain access to everything he deserves. He's been here since he was in 2nd grade. Now he's in college and working a great job. Something his illegal parents could not get for him. I could be wrong but I am pretty sure for these illegal children the only ways for them to gain any legal status is through marriage or their parents work (if their parents are legal).
Finally, google the dream act. Better yet, speak to a 20 year old illegal alien who has been here since they were five years old, would you want to just throw them back to a place they don't even know?Probably because you're worried that your D+ student who never tried in high school won't get into a state school "
RICKYL1024 wrote on Nov 23, 2009 2:09 PM:
jrjrg123 wrote on Nov 22, 2009 8:56 PM:
Delaware Bob wrote on Nov 22, 2009 7:57 PM:
1-20-2013 wrote on Nov 22, 2009 10:29 AM:
Saying that an illegal (read: Criminal) alien should get in at lower cost is preposterous.
With unemployment at 10.5%, (19% in the construction industry) the only thing that illegals should be getting is immediate deportation orders. "
gimmesum wrote on Nov 21, 2009 5:43 PM:
Maybe a good question would be: "How many qualified high school graduates are turned away from the state schools due to limited space?" If anything, I think many colleges and universities have lowered standards in an effort to fill more seats.
Certain degree programs, nursing for instance, may have a waiting list and expect students to have proven academic skills.
It just seems to me that if these young people have put in the time, fufilled the obligations set forth by MGL and their district, succeeded on the MCAS exams etc., what is the harm in letting them reap the same benefits as those who sat across the aisle for 4 or 5 years?
If people are concerned that there may be too many, put a limit and have a lottery. "
Anna D wrote on Nov 21, 2009 5:27 PM:
Jan wrote on Nov 21, 2009 4:46 PM:
I probably shouldn't use the word "bumped". Actually, a lot of kids apply to certain colleges each year. There are only SO MANY openings per year, right? So, in order to fulfil their quota, your child could very well be overlooked in favor of admitting so many illegal, criminal alien's children. That is outrageous....but that's what it's coming to, I'm afraid. "
Jan wrote on Nov 21, 2009 4:42 PM:
1-20-2013 wrote on Nov 21, 2009 4:09 PM:
Check the price for UMass vs, Oh I don't know, BU & BC ?
I think you will find that in-state tuition & fees, room & board are about half the cost of the private schools.
Here in America, that's called a subsidy, or, if you will, a benefit to us CITIZENS for TAXES THAT WE PAY.
So if you put 300 ILLEGAL ALIENS in the state schools, it's going to cost US more than the state would gain, capeesh ? "
gimmesum wrote on Nov 21, 2009 12:10 PM:
And besides, I do not think the proposal to give in-state tuition to illegals is altruistic.
I think the goal is to get them in the classroom to keep the numbers up and tuition cost down. It is a numbers game. "
gimmesum wrote on Nov 21, 2009 11:59 AM:
Anna D wrote on Nov 21, 2009 11:17 AM:
And Jan, it's early and I haven't had all my coffee yet, so please elaborate. Your post was interesting to me. We are in the same situation, sort of (although our first hasn't graduated yet, it's close). "
Jan wrote on Nov 21, 2009 11:05 AM:
We were born here in Mass. and have paid taxes since we were young.
I worked between 50 and 60 hours per week to send him there, pay the tuition, pay for the meal plan, and any extra expenses that he incurred. He took over payments after graduating and working.
Can you see where I'm going with this? "
gimmesum wrote on Nov 21, 2009 10:37 AM:
Community college would suit us just fine.
In fact, I know many graduates who have opted in to BCC or CCRI and other community colleges because tuition is so much cheaper and they transfer the credits. These kids are the smart ones. "
Anna D wrote on Nov 21, 2009 10:17 AM:
Anna D wrote on Nov 21, 2009 10:14 AM:
More importantly, these "300" or whatever the final number turns out to be (and I agree it likely will be many more, as the incentive is a huge magnet) will take the spaces and bump out the children of American citizens and legal immigrants, who need to be able to send their kids to a 4-year state college. Which of your children should lose a place in the UMass system so that an illegal can get a high value, reasonable cost education? Will you have to send your child to community college or worse, to a school that charges 50 grand a year so some illegal immigrant kid can squat in the place of your child?
Further, because they are considered minorities, they will "squat" into the scholarship pipeline too, and take scholarship and grant money away from the children who are here legally. This domino effect puts the children who are here legally at a huge disadvantage and I think it's wrong. Go back to the country you came from, and come back here legally (like I did). Then you will be welcome. "
gimmesum wrote on Nov 21, 2009 9:50 AM:
If these children have sat in classrooms in Massachusetts for 4, 5, 6 consecutive years, should they not be given "squatter's rights"? "
anavoter wrote on Nov 21, 2009 9:42 AM:
This Govenor and many of his democratic colleagues in BOston need to go. VOTE THEM OUT. "
curmudgeon wrote on Nov 21, 2009 9:30 AM:
ILLEGAL means just that NOT LEGAL, why than are we planning to provide services to those that are illegal?
Talk about a fox guarding the henhouse, the co-chair is Eva Millona, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Coalition, in Mass we al know that word illegal is there but the media and others will not use it.
A lot of my business was lost by others using illegals to do the work for pennies on the dollars, of course no withholding taxes had to be paid, no worker compensation had to be paid, no benefits had to be offered and paid, and since many deals were done in cash the business owners easily could avoid reporting the income as well and ay no tax on it.
Last time I knew the state colleges did not have vacancies for students so her reasoning that the 300 plus students would bring in more revenue is ridiculous those slots would either be filled by LEGAL students (in-state) or out of state, hopefully by out-state as they generate a higher revenue.
Now we want to give them all driver's licenses, and all kind of benefits that we the hard working taxpayers have to pay for. "
stp wrote on Nov 21, 2009 9:12 AM:
Southern View wrote on Nov 21, 2009 9:04 AM:
Illegal immigrants should be in jail and then deported. Unfortunately, the Dems count on them for votes. "
stp wrote on Nov 21, 2009 8:56 AM:
If you folks are so annoyed at the children of illegal aliens in our education system then take a ride to Attleboro High sometime. Its full of them. "
magicmarker64 wrote on Nov 21, 2009 8:27 AM:
buda1 wrote on Nov 21, 2009 7:54 AM:
chupachupa wrote on Nov 21, 2009 7:42 AM:
I have nothing against people trying to better themselves by moving to America, as my grandfather did, probably illegally.
But until they get "papers" we should not also break the law to help them--
GED maybe, food stamps-no way, driver's license-maybe. We need to identify them, someway. "
ken wrote on Nov 21, 2009 7:31 AM:
The vast majority of us embrace immigration, what we oppose is ILLEGAL immigration. The far left supports any immigration, legal or not.
The claim is about 300 would take advantage of the in-state tuition, that is until word gets out that they could get a good eucation in MA, them more ILLEGALs will come here. What about finincial aid? Would they be entitled to financial aid if their law-breaking mothers and fathers fall into lower income brackets? This kind of thinking only furthers the idea that it is ok to break the law.
If there is sufficient money to subsidize ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, I SAY FURTHER LOWER THE PRICE OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION FOR ALL LEGAL IN-STATE RESIDENTS! "
VladsBack!! wrote on Nov 21, 2009 7:01 AM:
buttercup456 wrote on Nov 21, 2009 4:53 AM: