The California Supreme Court upheld a law on Monday that grants undocumented immigrants in-state tuition for the state’s colleges and universities, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.
This is great news, because you can bet that any undocumented students already have plenty of odds stacked against them just to graduate high school, and given that California’s budget crisis has caused tuition costs to skyrocket, many of these students are having a hard enough time affording college as it is.
Many undocumented students are from low-income families and are the only hope for parents struggling to make ends meet. They must work extremely hard to be granted private scholarships for college because they are unable to get federal aid without the proper papers, like a Social Security card.
Last year, California raised its tuition 32 percent in the midst of the school year to deal with the unavailability of state funding, according to the Chronicle story. If undocumented students had to pay out-of-state tuition, they would have to pay thousands more on top of the already increased tuition. At California State University and the University of California, out-of-state students must pay $11,160 and $23,000 more respectively, according to the Chronicle.
Oklahoma used to have a law similar to California’s until anti-immigration crusader Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, authored HB 1804, which ended the allowance of in-state tuition to undocumented students residing in Oklahoma. While it exempted those students who had already enrolled within the 2006-07 academic year, the future just looks bleaker for undocumented students.
During the 2008-09 school year, even OU had 12 undocumented students, according to an Oct. 3 article on NewsOK.com. There are undoubtedly a handful in some classes this semester. You may even sit next to an undocumented student, without realizing he or she isn’t a legal resident. But you do know that he or she is a hard working student that isn’t looking to cause trouble or steal jobs.
The solution to the immigration mess would be for Congress to pass the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act — better known as the DREAM Act. The act would allow people who have been in the U.S. for more than five years, arrived when they were younger than 16 and have a high school diploma or GED to begin the process of becoming a legal resident. The process would also involve requiring immigrants to complete two years of college or two years of military service.
Currently, it can take up to 20 years to obtain a visa granting legal status, according to the U.S. State Department
The DREAM Act has been brought up in just about every legislative session for the past three years, but has failed each time.
However, Politico reported on Monday that President Barack Obama is scheduled to meet with representatives today to discuss the bill in hopes that it could get passed during the lame duck session. The story also reports that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., could bring the DREAM act to the floor this week.
If this happens, we encourage you to call your representatives and tell them to support this legislation.
If undocumented students have an easier path to citizenship, that will mean more students can obtain higher education degrees, which in-turn means more higher paying jobs and a stronger state economy. Isn’t that what our newly elected leaders talked about all campaign season? They should be the first to support the DREAM Act.
Critics of immigration often complain that they don’t want to compete against undocumented workers for jobs, but this goes against the very spirit of our capitalist economy. If undocumented students go through the effort to make good grades, pay for tuition and graduate, then they have more than deserved the life the U.S. offers.
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Boxcar 1 year, 6 months ago
You encourage illegal immigration rather than than try to prevent it. By the way, though it may not be enforced right now, it is illegal for OU to give a diploma to an illegal alien.
OkieWXman 1 year, 6 months ago
You say: "Many undocumented students are from low-income families and are the only hope for parents struggling to make ends meet. They must work extremely hard to be granted private scholarships for college because they are unable to get federal aid without the proper papers, like a Social Security card."
Why should they get federal financial aid when they are here illegally, and aren't paying taxes? I sure wish I didn't have to pay taxes, but could still get my financial aid...
localsooner 1 year, 6 months ago
So increasing the number of college educated people also increases the amount of higher paying jobs? How does that make any sense?
Increased education means there will be more applicants for the same number of well paying jobs.
Further, you say "But you do know that he or she is a hard working student that isn’t looking to cause trouble or steal jobs."
Right now I don't compete for jobs with illegal immigrants that perform unskilled labor, but an illegal immigrant with an education is competing with me and would, by definition, "steal my job."
I'm not arguing for or against comprehensive immigration reform or bills like the DREAM act, I'm simply pointing out that your article makes little sense.
You guys need some econ or business majors on your staff....
CWard 1 year, 6 months ago
I completely agree with these 2 posts. Not only is allowing undocumented students to receive in-state tuition unfair to the students who pay in-state (and out of state) tuition as well as pay their taxes, it completely goes against the principles of America. It's illegal not to pay taxes, not to mention living in America without proper documentation. Allowing students who don't pay taxes and therefore don't contribute to funding higher education doesn't make the least bit of sense. Just imagine how much more of a budget crisis Oklahoma would be in if it allowed undocumented students to attend public universities without properly funding them.
Your article was poorly written and makes little sense. I suggest doing some more research and formulating a smarter opinion.
dargus 1 year, 6 months ago
Assuming undocumented workers have gained counterfeit documentation, they are having taxes withheld, and since they can't file they won't get any refunds. They only way they can avoid paying taxes is if they get paid under the table, which, I dont' believe, is the way it usually works with bigger businesses.
HT307 1 year, 6 months ago
Why should people in the US ILLEGALLY get a break when someone from Oklahoma, and a US Citizen, not be afforded the same break. Taking into account the same socio-economic criteria, the ILLEGAL is given preferential treatment based soley on commiting a CRIME and entering the US ILLEGALLY
this is another reason why California is going to be the first state to go bankrupt. just wait until they do and start asking everyone else for help