Posted on 02/23/2008 7:50:50 PM PST by BGHater
The heated debate over whether to allow undocumented immigrants to attend public colleges and universities at the same tuition rate other Connecticut residents pay could soon reignite at the state legislature.
Under a bill introduced by state Rep. Felipe Reinoso, D- Bridgeport, Connecticut students living in the country illegally would pay in-state tuition rates at all state public colleges and universities, rather than the pricier out-of-state rates they must pay now.
A similar bill was passed by the state legislature along partisan lines last year after a hard-fought debate, but Gov M. Jodi Rell vetoed the measure.
Another bill, introduced by Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney, D- New Haven, takes a more limited approach, offering in-state tuition rates to undocumented immigrants at only the state's community colleges. Looney, who supported the more expansive bill last year, said the pared down measure would cost less but still help many low-income families and establish a foothold on the issue.
"It seemed to me that having the bill last year be vetoed, doing something that would be somewhat more incremental is a way to renew the debate on a more limited scale," he said.
A spokesman for Rell said the governor's position would depend on what form the legislation takes.
The debate over the issue last year drew emotional arguments from both sides. Supporters of the proposal described bright students who had grown up in Connecticut but were effectively shut out from affordable higher education because their parents brought them into the country illegally as children. Opponents said in-state tuition rates would reward breaking the law and would take limited spots at state universities from legal residents. The bill passed the House and Senate without the support of a single Republican legislator.
In vetoing the bill, Rell said she sympathized with the students but could not overlook the fact that they were in the country illegally.
Reinoso, an immigrant from Peru and a longtime educator, said he would be willing to negotiate with the governor's office and make concessions if necessary to allow the bill to go forward.
Reinoso said he has worked with many bright students who come from poor families and want to continue their education but cannot afford out-of-state tuition rates. "We have the kids here. Let's provide for the opportunity for them to become good citizens, good professionals," he said. "They will be taxpayers. We all want well-educated individuals in our state, so let's provide them the opportunity."
Tuition rates for in-state students are significantly less than those charged to out-of-state students. At the four schools in the Connecticut State University System, in-state tuition will be nearly $8,000 less than out-of-state tuition during the next school year. At the University of Connecticut, in-state students will be charged nearly $15,000 less in tuition than their out-of-state counterparts.
At the state's community colleges, full-time tuition for the next school year will cost $2,640 for Connecticut residents; those paying out-of-state rates will pay $7,920 in tuition.
Looney said the scaled-back bill, which covers only community colleges, stemmed from discussions with advocates and the idea that a more limited proposal might be more palatable.
"I think the issue is still one of merit," he said. "These are, in fact, Connecticut's children, and many times these are children who all of their living memory is of life in Connecticut."
Looney said he expected some people would oppose the bill and "demagogue on this issue," but he said he hoped there would be a practical way to find a solution for Connecticut students.
State Rep. Vincent Candelora, R- North Branford, meanwhile, predicted that the new bills would meet fates similar to last year's bill.
Candelora, who opposes the bills, said he worried that changing the tuition rates would take away slots from legal residents and set a troublesome precedent.
"We're essentially inviting illegal immigrants to come into Connecticut and get educated at a cost-effective rate," he said.
Candelora said his constituents have expressed concern about illegal immigration, particularly in a troubled economy.
"I think the general feedback is, going into a recession, we have taxpayers that are willing to invest in the higher education system with the understanding that in the future their children might get the benefit of that investment," he said. "We effectively are going to give a benefit to people that aren't necessarily paying taxes into the system."
Instead, Candelora said, the legislature should focus on a comprehensive examination on how illegal immigration affects all state institutions, rather than addressing just higher education.
Contact Arielle Levin Becker at alevinbecker@courant.com.
Should Connecticut students living in the country illegally attend public colleges at the same tuition rate other state residents pay?
Should Connecticut students living in the country illegally attend public colleges and universities at the same tuition rate other state residents pay?
Yes (96 responses)
10.1%
No (851 responses)
89.9%
The mere fact that there is any debate at all on this subject is a sad indication of how bad things really are. And how bloody stupid so many people are.
It's a rather smarmy attitude if you think about it. Makes me think we should push all the population currently there into the sea and re-establish Connecticut as a virgin wilderness suitible for resettlement with legitimate residents ~ maybe folks from Virginia.
If Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney, D- New Haven, is so keen to give money to illegal aliens, nobody is stopping him from giving his own money. Oh, I forgot, Democrats and Communists (but I repeat myself) like Looney never use their own money - rather they steal from hard-working and productive people and then they give it away...
I could use some help with instate tuition in Idaho.
The state has not passed a law, but the Universities in the state are giving instate tuition to illegal aliens, unilaterally, stating that if the illegal alien has documented parents, he is considered a resident! This is wrong on so many levels. First of all, it is impossible for parents to be documented and not the student and it is impossible for the undocumented to become documented once they are illegally in the U.S. Plus, the student is still an illegal alien! They also have a don’t ask, don’t tell policy and they are awarding the GEM state scholarship to illegal aliens! This is at least a misappropriation of taxpayer funds.
Anyway, the Universities are operating against federal law and unilaterally. I have been trying to get the word out. I am in contact with my state senator who was supposed to talk to a university official on Friday.
Any suggestions as to where to go from here???
There is also no state law in support of instate tuition for illegal aliens, despite the fact that such law is also in violation of federal law.
“Any person who . . . encourages or induces an alien to . . . reside . . . knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such . . . residence is . . . in violation of law, shall be punished as provided . . . for each alien in respect to whom such a violation occurs . . . fined under title 18 . . . imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.”
Section 274 felonies under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, INA 274A(a)(1)(A):
A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when she or he:
* assists an alien s/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or
* encourages that alien to remain in the U.S. by referring him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or
* knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions.
Penalties upon conviction include criminal fines, imprisonment, and forfeiture of vehicles and real property used to commit the crime. Anyone employing or contracting with an illegal alien without verifying his or her work authorization status is guilty of a misdemeanor. Aliens and employers violating immigration laws are subject to arrest, detention, and seizure of their vehicles or property. In addition, individuals or entities who engage in racketeering enterprises that commit (or conspire to commit) immigration-related felonies are subject to private civil suits for treble damages and injunctive relief.
Try RICO laws, but I think it is against the law for a State to violate Federal law by supporting and encouraging illegals to go to college. Then also you could sue the University for harboring that known illegal.
http://www.americanpatrol.com/REFERENCE/AidAbetUnlawfulSec8USC1324.html
Much thanks for the info. Should I seek the advice of an attorney or keep trying to get my state senator to stop this?
Try to file your own RICO lawsuit to a Univ. first. Even if its state law, its still against Federal law.
tell your senator to make sure Idaho Senate Bill 1427: the “Idaho Student Investment Act” dies in committee.
It doesn’t have the doesn’t have the support to pass right now, but they’re trying to make in state tuition for tax evading illegal aliens, er I mean undocumented students, not so under the table anymore..
“I would suggest that you try to blackmail your Senator with sextapes, he might be gay, kiddy porn. Anything at this point. If you have to steal his secret apple pie recipe go for it to make him listen to you.”
Sorry, Larry Craig is retiring! LOL
It’s not state law.
Fine, I know a very ruthless attorney who just might be willing...Though working hard against illegal immigration, I’ve never been on the front lines like this before.Yikes! But,I figure if not me, then who?
Yeah don’t think ICAN is going very far. But, there is always institutions acting in defiance of the law and getting away with it.
BTW, anybody out there have any idea about the Mexican Consulate sheduled for southern Idaho? I cannot get anyone on the Federal level (and, I know several aides in the D.C. Crapo office who will not return calls, emails) or in Representative Sali’s office. They keep sending me on wild goose chases. They are distancing themselves from the Consulate and it will open by stealth... I found a real estate blog stating that the Mexican Consulate was looking for office space and a press release from 2003 on Crapo’s meeting about the Consulate. Same with the state officials.
It sickens me that they are doing this to Idaho without public knowledge. I have written letters to the Editor to the 3 major papers in Idaho so I’m trying to get the word out!
By all means! When the citizens have made it perfectly clear that they oppose an issue, just pass it a little bit at a time. That method has proven successful for many years. Eventually people will probably tire of battling the endless annual attempts to pass abhorrent legislation.
I don’t know much about it either.. funny how if a government finds out that what it wants to do is against the will of the People, it just tries to it again without them finding out the second time..
Yeah, well I’m a fighter and I have a big mouth. Even if the Consulate goes in, I’m gonna make sure Crapo pays the price. He’s been down in Mexico, smoozing with Calderon and Harry Reid in support of the Meridia Initiative. I liked Mike but now he’s gone over to the dark side. They all seem to except for Vitter, DeMint, Inhofe, Sessions and a few others.
Wyoming? South Dakota? Berserk? ;')
Or, try here: F.I.R.E.
The mission of FIRE is to defend and sustain individual rights at America's colleges and universities. These rights include freedom of speech, legal equality, due process, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience—the essential qualities of individual liberty and dignity.
Never hurts to try; they have successfully defended many Conservative cases.
Nope, I intend to stay in Idaho and fight! I will check out F.I.R.E.
But, I am finding that when the rubber meets the road, you are on your own. People like to complain but not act. Sad.
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