Posted on 06/18/2003 5:56:24 PM PDT by chance33_98
Oregon Lawmakers Will Decide Issue of Illegal Student Tuition
Tuesday, June 17, 2003 05:45 PM
A crowd of over a hundred rallyers gathered in front of the Oregon Statehouse.
Carrying signs and chanting.
They want lawmakers to hear them.
The group supports illegal immigrants who are looking for a higher education.
"There is no reason why this shouldn't pass. Because it's about fairness," Senator Peter Courtney (D) said to the crowd, standing at a podium on the front steps of the capitol.
Senator Courtney is sponsoring a bill to allow illegal aliens to pay in-state tuition at Oregon's colleges and university's.
Students like Fabiola Castro. She was born in Mexico, and now she's a Junior at North Salem High School. She says she'll struggle to go to college if she has to pay out-of-state tuition, in a state she calls home.
"I would have to pay for out of state tuition which is 3-times more. Since both my parents work in agriculture, that would be almost impossible," Castro said.
It also looks like it might be impossible to pass the bill, because of some opposition.
"When you come here willingly and violate our laws, why should we extend that opportunity? There's something inherently wrong with that," Representative Jeff Kropf said on the issue.
Representative Kropf won't vote for the bill. He says it encourages people to break immigation laws.
"That gets to the National security argument that is very real," he added.
Kropf is also concerned about money. What is the financial impact on taxpayers? Since, more students require more resources. "I would clearly be concerned about that. We don't have a lot of money these days, and it just seems to be counterproductive to what we're trying to accomplish," Kropf said.
"That's a wash that argument. It doesn't hold," Oregon Senator Peter Courtney said. Courtney believes alien students paying in-state tuition would generate revenue for Oregon schools.
And on the issue of students posing a security risk... "These are kids who've gone to our schools. Who've played on our sports teams....who've been on the yearbook," he said.
Students who he believes shouldn't pay for the illegal sins of their parents.
"They're already making contributions to their schools and communities. They didn't ask who their parents would be. Just like you and I didn't," Senator Courtney said.
What a freaking genius! We've been looking all over for people to fill up all those empty spots in U.S. colleges and universities. This guy has the solution to all of our problems!
I have now heard it all. It is now considered "making a contribution" when a person consumes services provided by others. This is beyond Orwellian double-speak.
1) It's not fair to the students, as they very likely didn't have any input into their parents' choice to break the law and illegally immigrate to the U.S.
2) It's not fair to the taxpayers, as they thus have to pay for the actions of lawbreakers.
How about we try for a via media?
Upon discovery, such students are given the following options:
1) Immediate deportation of the entire family.
2) Deportation of the child only if he/she is accepted to the University of Mexico or other reasonably decent school in Mexico, progresses through a course of study, and gets a degree in (oh, say) 5 years.
3) The child pays in-state tuition, and the Government of Mexico pays the rest.
4) The child pays in-state tuition, but moves to Mexico with their family upon graduation. If they move back to the U.S.A. illegally, upon being caught they are not deported, they are imprisoned.
When children are put into harm's way due to the action of their parents, I have sympathy for the child. Perhaps you can improve on these ideas.
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