2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
Governor proposes in-state tuition for illegals
Immigrant tuition break bill hits home
Gabrielle Dunn, Sarah Betancourt
Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: News
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To circumvent a State Legislature that, after heated debate in the Senate, failed to pass the same bill in 2006, Patrick will have to draft a regulation, which may be used in place of the law it resembles until it can fully pass into legislation.
Passing a regulation would require only the signatures of the 11 members of the Board of Higher Education.
California was the first state to sign off on a similar bill in 2001 with New York, Texas, Illinois and Oklahoma following in the Golden State's footsteps.
Patrick's proposal allows illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition in Massachusetts, potentially saving them thousands of dollars in college fees.
Emerson's Vice President of Public Affairs David Rosen said the college, a private institution, will not offer tuition breaks to illegal immigrants.
"State colleges offer differentiates for in-state residents and non residents," Rosen said in an e-mail message. "Emerson does not offer breaks or different tuition rates for any group, although it does offer financial assistance to many low-income families."
The National Center for Education Statistics, a division of the US Department of Education, reported on their official Web site that public, four-year, degree-granting institutions in Massachusetts charge an average of $18,000 per year for out-of-state tuition while in-state residents pay $9,300. Illegal immigrants may also attend private institutions for almost triple the cost of in-state tuition at a public college.
Senior Michael McManus, who works for Obama for America, said he feels Patrick is making good on his campaign state economy by affording illegal immigrants in-state tuition and increasing the amount of college-educated immigrants.
"The logic behind this is that if they or their parents are not working legally, they are not making enough to afford the $10,000 per year to go to UMass without the in-state tuition break," the organizational and political communication major said in an e-mail message. "This means that by charging less, UMass will actually net more profit by educating more students."
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Ali
posted 2/22/08 @ 10:46 AM EST
"The logic behind this is that if they or their parents are not working legally, they are not making enough to afford the $10,000 per year to go to UMass without the in-state tuition break," the organizational and political communication major said in an e-mail message. (Continued…)
B. McCain
posted 2/22/08 @ 10:51 AM EST
More than 80% of Americans oppose illegal immigration.
What does it say when a State Official refuses to listen to his/her constituents?
No in-state tuition for illegal aliens. (Continued…)
J.D.
posted 2/22/08 @ 11:19 AM EST
This is completely ILLEGAL and will result in numerous lawsuits from ANY American citizen forced to pay out-of-state tuition rates at a Massachusetts state college. (Continued…)
Bernie
posted 2/22/08 @ 11:21 AM EST
Sorry, but I don't buy this arguement. Any education benefits should go to the children of American citizens. They are the ones that pay taxes that support our education system and should be the only ones that benefit from our system. (Continued…)
Chuck Woolery
posted 2/22/08 @ 12:40 PM EST
Sure the illegals' parents and the student may be able to afford in-state tuition, and the school will take in more revenue as a result, but illegals and legals are a massive net liabilty to the state and to the country. (Continued…)
Bobby
posted 2/22/08 @ 4:26 PM EST
Is, he at the same time proposing in State tuition for out of state AMERICAN CITIZEN AND LEGAL RESIDENT STUDENTS. If not,then my Lord,if those American students and legal residents have any self respect left,the should know what to do with his political career--shouldn't they?
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