http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/colo-lawmakers-approve-lower-tuition-rates-for-immigrant-students-governor-expected-to-sign/2013/03/08/fe7c6f08-8814-11e2-b412-2e8596e7c927_story.html
For the past 10 years immigrants in Colorado have been working to get a bill passed that would allow illegal immigrants to receive the in state tuition rates that legal citizens have been able to take advantage of. They will be the 13th state to pass a bill like this. Previously illegal immigrants had to pay the out of state tuition at state schools. Finally after years of work the bill has been passed and is expected to be signed by the governor of Colorado later this week. After this is signed, many illegal immigrants that could not afford college will be able to. Some people, like Rep. Kevin Priola, pushed to have this signed because for illegal immigrants “…there is no country to go back to.” This move will provide those who have the ability to attend college the chance to. Other people, like Rep. Polly Lawrence, say that this move does not provide a brighter future and actually encourages illegal immigration.
Do you think illegal immigrants should be allowed to pay the in state tuition fees for colleges? Please explain why or why not.
I think they should be able to pay the tuition fees because it can benefit both the immigrants and the state and school as well. If immigrants are willing to pay for their education I think there's no real harm in letting them.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with what Graham said, I believe that illegal immigrants should not be able to pay in state tuition fees. They are here illegally, so why should they be able to take advantage of something that United States citizens have been using for years. If they do not want to become legal citizens, then why should they be able to get citizens benefits? If this does pass, it just adds to the price America is spending on these illegal immigrants to become educated. For example, California spends 1 billion dollars on educating illegals, so I believe that if this bill passes in Colorado, it will not help our economy.
ReplyDeleteI disagree and somewhat what agree with both Brandon and Graham. When it comes to illegal immigrants I think applying for citzenship should be the first goal that they should work towards. I do believe that illegal immigrants should be able to go to college and start to work towards making a future. I think in order for them to have the right to pay for instate tuition they need to be legal citizens first or have a green card. Once they are citizens or have a green card they can apply for financial aid and pay for in-state intuition fees. If they do not have either, they should not be able to pay for in-state fees because they are illegal immigrants. Legal or illegal immigrants all have the right to pursue their future but I believe they should obey by the laws first before they try to do so. I think it's important for us, as a country, to provide education to all immigrants because they could help our economy in the future.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Nicole that the first thing they really need to focus on is becoming legal in America and getting their citizenship. They have the right to go to college and make something of their lives, but it should be done as a legal citizen or they really don't have the rights that American citizens do. I don't think they should be able to just come in and have all of the same benefits so they shouldn't be able to just immediately pay the fees. They really need to gain citizenship or it's not really fair.
ReplyDeleteI believe that illegal immigrants should not have to pay the reduced fees for in-state students since they only pay some taxes. I agree with Nicole and Sasha that they should focus on becoming legal residents of the US before going to college. However, I think they should be able to pay the tuition that would be paid by an out of state student if they have the money but only if that spot is not being taken away from an United States citizen that is applying and meets the acceptance requirements.
ReplyDeleteGiving illegal immigrants the reduced, in-state tuition makes the college lose money. Perhaps they should have to pay back after graduation after they get a job or some sort of graduate tax. They should also be required to attain citizenship during their time in college so they can get a job legally and have their college education be worth it.
I agree with Brandon because I also think that they are not legal, they should not get legal citizens' benefits. Like Nicole said, we should let immigrants pursue their dreams and provide them with an education just in case they do help the economy after all. I think that if immigrants have a visa or green card then they should be allowed to pay in state tuition. Immigrants should obey the law first though. So, if they are not legal citizens they should become one and then they can be given the same benefits that American citizens are given and can pursue a future.
ReplyDeleteHannah and Brandon make a great point. I totally agree with them, unless they are legal citizens they have no right to get the benefits entitled to legal citizens. I believe that an illegal immigrant shouldn't be in the country period, and to try to take advantage of the rights granted to legal citizens, only because they are legal citizens, is wrong. If they are illegal, that means they shouldn't be in the country so I don't understand how some states can think that its okay to give them benefits that should only be allotted to legal citizens. If we begin to give illegal immigrants the same rights as legal citizens it is only encouraging illegal immigration. Why would they go through all of the hassle of becoming a citizen if they can get the same benefits that legal citizens get as an illegal immigrant. If they want the same benefits that legal citizens get then they should become an American citizen.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Brandyn said that illegal immigrants should not be allowed to benefit from in-state tuition fees because the United States already spends too much on educating illegal immigrants through high school so why should they do it through the collegiate level? Also, it is not fair to United States citizens who might have to pay extra because cheaper tuition was given to an illegal immigrant. Another important reason why illegal immigrants should not pay in-state tuition is simply because they are not recognized by the state as residents, and in-state tuition is specifically for residents of the state in which they are going to college. If the state universities do, however, allow the illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition, they should be held to higher standards of admittance than legal state residents. This is because it is really unfair if someone gets denied from a college because an illegal immigrant was slightly better than them in high school.
ReplyDeleteIf someone resides in America illegally, they should not have the same opportunities. Illegal immigrants using American education just as any other legal citizen would is unfair. Even if the illegal immigrant is willing to pay for tuition, there would be no difference in a citizen paying for tuition to the same school as the immigrant would be, except for the fact that the person is breaking the law, yet getting the same advantages as citizens. Illegal immigrants should make becoming a legal citizen a priority before thinking about college.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of my classmates above as this is a terrible misuse of our government. This is where the idea that illegal immigrants are taking advantage of our country and living here for free comes from. The In-State tuition is reserved for a legal citizen of said state, in this case it would be Colorado. An illegal immigrant should not even be allowed to live in this country never-mind be given benefits of a legal and law abiding citizen of the United States of America. This is the main reason why I feel that this country id going down the drain, in the sense that this country is not the promise land it used to be.
ReplyDeleteI do not think they shou,d b able to because they have no way to prove that they are in state! If they have no papers then there is no way for them to prove to the college that they are citicenz of the state, and therefore they do not deserve the privelidge of paying in state fees.
ReplyDeleteTHIS DISCUSSION IS NOW CLOSED. COMMENTS AFTER THIS POINT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR CREDIT.
ReplyDelete