The CA Supreme Judge has decreed that illegal immigrants might continue to receive in-state tuition rates at California state universities, so long as they meet the high school requirement, writes the Los Angeles Times. Those who see education as a human right support the state supreme court’s decision, writes the Los Angeles Times. Yet legal residents who have lost their jobs or benefits during California’s spending budget crisis are singing a different tune.
First recorded protection for in-state tuition
The California court’s protection of in-state tuition eligibility for undocumented immigrants is the first such challenge to the law in the nation. In-state college tuition is granted to illegal immigrant students if they have had three years of high school experience within the state. This is the law in CA also as in nine other states. Typically, students who do not satisfy the state residency requirement must pay much more to attend a state college until they formally become residents of the state in which the college is located.
Opposition can’t stomach the price
In-state tuition is something that students who are in the country legally should be given. This benefit is not something that should go to undocumented workers. Illegal immigrants pay $23,000 less a year on academics because of the in-state college tuition benefit system the University of CA has. There was an estimated 25,000 undocumented students paying in-state tuition, reports the Immigration Reform Law Institute in Washington, D.C. These are just in the state of California. The estimated fee to the state exceeds $200 million.
Federal law and in-state college tuition ruling
Federal law bars undocumented immigrants from receiving higher education benefits based upon residency. The in-state college tuition ruling seems to be breaking federal law, shows Ralph Kasarda. He is an attorney with the Pacific Lawful Foundation. There will have to be an appeal to the United States of America Supreme Court more than likely.
“California isn’t in sync using the federal mandate against giving Brownie points for being an illegal immigrant,” Kasarda told the Los Angeles Times.
But California state officials insist that there is no conflict. They claim that under the state’s nonresident tuition exemption, public colleges might extend in-state tuition to those who attended California high schools for three years or more. Legal status isn't looked at. CA does not considered immigration status.
Articles cited
LA Times
latimes.com/news/local/la-me-illegal-students-20101116,0,2917015.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+latimes/mostviewed+%28L.A.+Times+-+Most+Viewed+Stories%29
America, the land of priorities
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