Debate continues over in-state tuition for illegal immigrants
Emily Maretsky
Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: Features
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One facet of this debate - the question of how to treat undocumented workers who have lived and worked in the United States for years - has been reignited here in Massachusetts.
Three years ago, a proposal to offer in-state tuition to illegal immigrants was rejected by the Mass. House of Representatives. The bill, which would have benefited illegal immigrants who have lived in Massachusetts for three or more years, was also guaranteed a veto by former Gov. Mitt Romney.
Last month, Gov. Deval Patrick announced that he is looking to circumvent the state legislature in order to offer an in-state tuition price tag to children of undocumented workers at Massachusetts state universities.
At the University of Massachusetts at Boston, out-of-state tuition costs about $8,000 more per year than in-state tuition. Even at local community colleges, out-of-state students must pay upwards of 10 times the cost paid by Massachusetts residents. Currently, undocumented workers, even those who live in the state, must pay the out-of-state tuition.
These increased costs prevent even the highest-achieving high-school students from attending college, as they can not afford it.
Backers of Patrick's plan argue that immigrant students who have performed well in school should be able to pursue higher education, regardless of their immigrant status, while critics believe these financial benefits should only be available to state citizens who pay for them in tax money.
Patrick, along with his lawyers, is currently deliberating over whether the state could offer the lower tuition with approval from the state's Board of Higher Education instead of a passing a bill in the state Legislature.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 9
Ali
posted 2/11/08 @ 1:50 PM EST
As far as I am aware, illegal aliens who wish to go to college can return to their home countries and apply to come here legally as students before the age of 18. (Continued…)
whmcdonald
posted 2/11/08 @ 1:57 PM EST
if the states benefits so much by offering instate tuition rates to ILLEGALS why not offer in state rates to every one and increase the benefits to the state even more ?
katie
posted 2/11/08 @ 3:41 PM EST
The photo accompaning this article speaks volumes. The invaders are holding signs printed in a foreign language. This is part of what Americans are upset about. (Continued…)
Bobby
posted 2/11/08 @ 4:07 PM EST
I don't know, I guess I just don't understand. Where is the debate? In the first place illegal aliens are robbing American citizens of this nations resources, riches, etc. (Continued…)
Larry
posted 2/11/08 @ 6:27 PM EST
Break the law..........be rewarded. That sums it up.
mmers
posted 2/11/08 @ 9:30 PM EST
Does it really matter whether or not they're citizens or not? I personally think that only tax-paying citizens should benefit from instate tuition, HOWEVER, it's in Massachusetts' best economic interest to extend this benefit to immigrants. (Continued…)
Will
posted 2/11/08 @ 10:16 PM EST
The xenophobic response to this article is outrageous, and frankly surprising to see at Tufts. It is certainly a divisive issue, but the language we're seeing here--even from Dan Hartman in the article--is disturbing and pretty offensive. (Continued…)
Jasper
posted 2/11/08 @ 11:31 PM EST
All illegal alien lawbreakers need to be deported!
Katie
posted 2/11/08 @ 11:43 PM EST
What's not fair is that these invaders have already taken enough while they were being educated in our public school systems for many years. They have taken valuable time away from our young citizen students since so many couldn't speak english. (Continued…)
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