Arlington, Virginia Delegate Offers Bill Giving Illegal Immigrants In-State Tuition Rates

WMAL Radio ^ | 1/14/03 | WMAL

[chambley1]

Arlington delegate offers bill giving illegal immigrants in-state tuition rates

An Arlington delegate is opposing Virginia's attorney general on whether illegal immigrants should pay out-of-state tuition rates at Virginia colleges and universities.

Karen Darner's bill would offer in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants who graduate from a Virginia high school and agree to begin the process of becoming a permanent resident.

In September, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore wrote a memo to state college administrators that declared illegal immigrants were not eligible for in-state tuition rates because they were not in the country lawfully.

Darner tells the Washington Times in many cases, Kilgore's position would punish children for the mistakes of their parents.

Out-of-state tuition rates in Virginia can be four times as high as in-state rates.

[Kuksool]

{I will tear up my US passport and throw it away, go to Mexico and cross over into Texas and claim to be illegal.}

With the right amount of money, you could go to your local Mexican cultural center and obtain a Mexican ID. (Bribery is a way of life in Mexico). Democrat officals treat these Mexican ID cards as valid forms of ID. So, you could still apply for welfare, social security, and even vote. Isn't diversity wonderful? {SARCASM}

[Ligeia]

Excerpted from the Washington Times article on this thread

"Because an undomiciled alien is not lawfully present in the United States, and is therefore subject to deportation, undocumented aliens, cannot as a matter of law meet Virginia's statutory requirement" for in-state tuition consideration, Mr. Kilgore wrote in the memo to state college administrators.

Mr. Kilgore says current law is sufficient in Virginia but issued the memo in response to questions from the administrators as to whom they could accept and what those students should pay.

Delegate Thelma Drake, Norfolk Republican, has drafted a bill supporting the attorney general's position and opposing the Darner legislation.

She said it doesn't make sense to give people who are in the country illegally a break on tuition when the thousands of military families stationed temporarily in Virginia are asked to pay out-of-state tuition.

Many of the people who live in her Tidewater district are military spouses and dependents who often take courses at local colleges. Because most keep their residences in other states, they are not eligible for in-state rates.

"Why should we let those who are here illegally pay the lower rate?" she asked.

The difference in rate between in-state and out-of-state tuition can be substantial. Virginia Tech charges $480.24 for three credit hours for in-state students, and $1,682.49 for out-of-state students. The Northern Virginia Community College system charges $169.69 for in-state students and $607.41 for out-of-state students.

The state subsidizes the cost of each student enrolled in Virginia colleges and universities to the tune of about $6,000 a year.

[relee]

Karen Darner is an idiot!

[dixie sass]

Saw this as I was closing. Don't know if you have read it, but thought that I would ping you to it. Night.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Here's the real deal.

The truth is that Clinton cut-off benefits to people who are legally entitled to them, and Bush is negotiating a common treaty (this sort of thing has been around since the 1970's) to re-institute their payments.

Mexican officials may WANT payments to illegals, but it's a no-go on that.

[dixie sass]

Morning! Oh no? It wouldn't surprise me in the least to know that we are paying monies to illegals already. We are trying to buy the friendship of the Mexican people just like we do with every other country in the world by offering them something for nothing.

This is a receipt for fraud and deceit. It's already being perputrated by people in this country and England, France, etc., why not add Mexico to the list?

Why can't we learn that you can't buy friendship and loyalty, it's something that must be earned.

[Luis Gonzalez]

So, in other words, you believe that the US government should take money from people under a false pretense, then screw them out of it?

These are people who followed tha laws, and expect their monies back as promised them.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Why can't we learn that you can't buy friendship and loyalty"

These monies were taken from the wages of people working in the US legally, it's their money.

[dixie sass]

Luis, I don't mean the people who are here legally. It's the people who come into this country ILLEGALLY and milk us for all that they are worth.

I'm on fixed income - disability - and it galls me to see the people, both American and foreign that are getting everything they can and their is nothing wrong with them but laziness and greed.

It is honest people that suffer the most, the ones that try to help themselves but are the ones that pay the heaviest price for the thieves, grifters, con-artists, etc. Maybe I'm becoming a little cynical (I hope not).

The honest people on both sides of the borders are the ones that are getting ripped off and harmed.

I wish that I were as intelligent as you are and understood more of the problem. I am trying though, so please don't misunderstand what I am saying, I don't begrudge anyone what is rightfully theirs. I'm just tired of the being taken advantage of for being honest, aren't you?

[Luis Gonzalez]

No one should receive benefits that they are not entitled to, be they illegal immigrants or native born.

If they worked here legally, and had SS wages deducted from their paycheck, they are entitled to their money back regardless of where they may be living now.

[jwalsh07]

This is getting ridiculous. Out of state or in state ILLEGAL aliens should be sent home.