Posted on 12/14/2005 8:33:31 PM PST by Amerigomag
SACRAMENTO (AP) - A group of out-of-state college students filed a class-action lawsuit Wednesday challenging a law that lets some illegal immigrants who graduate from California high schools pay lower in-state fees at the state's public colleges and universities. The 2002 law allows students who attend at least three years of high school in California to qualify for the same in-state fee break given California citizens, regardless of their immigration status.
The lawsuit was filed in Yolo County on behalf of 42 plaintiffs, including two children of a former San Diego congressman. Attorneys for the plaintiffs said the discriminatory policy affects 60,000 out-of-state students who pay higher fees than in-state illegal immigrants and will be seeking damages. The lawsuit was sparked when former Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-San Diego, discovered that his children would have to pay more than $2,000 to attend community college after attending private school in Virginia.
California is one of nine states with laws allowing undocumented students to qualify for lower in-state tuition rates. A lawsuit filed in federal court in Kansas challenging that state's law was dismissed, but is being appealed. At issue is a federal law the plaintiffs claim specifically bars states from offering benefits to illegal immigrants without also making them available to U.S. citizens.
(Excerpt) Read more at fresnobee.com ...
Even if the plaintiffs win, they lose. California will just charge one rate for everybody and then give 'scholarships' to the illegals.
Nice to see someone doing something.
I hope they win anyway.
Nope, THAT money is earmarked for the other minorities, legal Hispanics included, women, homosexuals, transgenders and disabled. The illegals have too long a line to wait.
The only ones who don't get ANY break EVER are non-minority, hetero-males. Duh.
Me too.
I hope the out-of-state students win that one.
Then that could be a precedent for other states--if you are going to pander to foreign illegals, why penalize US citizens?
And my son is going into life knowing he's working under this handicap that they wouldn't dream of placing on anyone else. I don't see them denying grants and scholarships to other racial groups because of their skin color, yet they'll do it to him. It frustrates him. And hello, we don't have any more money to send him to school that either of my daughters yet there are scholarships available for geeky girls. *sigh*
This is one lawsuit I actually agree with.
It is a policy decision. The lawsuit strikes me as frivolous. Granted the statute needs to be reviewed, but I suspect it says residents, and illegals are residents.
wonder if the children of illegal immigrants who attend the three years, then return to Mexico, then return again to CA are still eligible for in state tuition? It is not uncommon for illegal migrants to go back across the boarder and return, just as it is not uncommon for CA school children to temporary reside in other states, yet our kids are penalized!
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
ping
Residency is defined as more than just occupying meatspace in the state's borders.
DREAM ON!
These students speak for the majority of Californians. We're sick of the pandering to anyone and everyone from Mexico.
Agreed. And I concur; the RNC has sold us out to Mexico for the vice of cheap labor at the expense of its base.
How about the federal and state governments send a bill to Mexico for the education and medical expenses of the illegals? If they don't pay up, then they could hire private collection agencies to go after Mexican officials. The IRS is doing this with tax "cheats" thanks to Senor Bush, but I doubt he'd want to offend Vincente Fox.
How on earth can you be a resident when you are not here legally?
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