In-state tuition rates for illegal aliens?

yabeyabe2 · 10-31-2009, 10:37 PM

NJ Governor Corzine favors making in-state tuition rates available to the children of illegal aliens (or undocumented workers, if you prefer). Reports say that 5-20 states do this. Proponents say, among other things, that this opens the doors to a better life and helps educate the stae workforce. Opponents, among other arguments, regard it as unfair if the parents involved do not pay state taxes to support the schools.

How do CC'ers feel?

lockn · 10-31-2009, 10:44 PM

Can an illegal immigrant even get a job that requires a degree?

emeraldkity4 · 10-31-2009, 11:37 PM

Well if they aren't too picky- they can work at Microsoft-
Microsoft supports plan for undocumented immigrants | Work visas - InfoWorld

soccerguy315 · 11-01-2009, 01:00 AM

illegal immigrants are not legal residents of a state.

therefore, they should not be getting instate tuition.

seems very simple to me.

romanigypsyeyes · 11-01-2009, 01:27 AM

It entirely depends. Many children of illegal immigrants are legal US citizens that have been raised in American schools all their lives. They do not know their parent's country and they are no different than you or more other than their parents are breaking the law (note: their PARENTS not them).

Honestly, if they (the STUDENTS) are citizens, I don't see why they shouldn't get instate tuition when others whose parents don't pay instate taxes (for example, if I'm not mistaken- people who live off welfare and social security do not pay taxes on that money and there are some people that live solely off that money, correct me if I'm wrong) also get instate tuition.

Just my two cents.

emeraldkity4 · 11-01-2009, 01:56 AM

illegal immigrants are not legal residents of a state.
they should be.

Some undocumented immigrants paying taxes, but nobody sure how many | Urban Habitat

Cuse0507 · 11-01-2009, 02:37 AM

No-they aren't legal residents, therefore, they shouldn't be granted in-state tuition.

Maybe we should grant in-state tuition to out-of-state sex offenders as well? After all, they have the same amount of respect for our laws that illegal aliens do.

Mr Payne · 11-01-2009, 06:14 AM

Illegal immigrants should be kicked out of the country upon discovery of their status. Legal immigration should be increased (and highly monitored).

tom1944 · 11-01-2009, 08:17 AM

Are the children (born in the US) of illegal immigrants the group we are discussing or is this referring to 18-25 year old day laborers that are illegally here?

I am using these groups assuming college age.

stillearning · 11-01-2009, 08:45 AM

Not all illegal immigrants are unemployed or paid "under the table." I'm not going to estimate statistics on these things, but plenty of "undocumented" workers are, in fact, falsely-documented workers. That is, they work with fake (or expired) documents. Yes, it's illegal, obviously. But taxes are still deducted from their wages as long as their employer is unaware of the situation (and if an employer does find out their documents are false, chances are slim that they will report it; they will simply be asked to leave). These parents can (and often do) raise their children completely undetected while their children get an American education and eventually decide to go to college in order to avoid their parents' fates. In this situation, their parents did pay taxes. So do we punish the student over the fact that their parents lied to get into (or stay in) the country and then falsified documents so they could work? Just keep in mind, plenty of college students have criminals for parents.

There may be many other arguments against in-state tuition rates for illegal immigrants, but the tax debate is not a very solid one.

tom1944 · 11-01-2009, 09:13 AM

If the children are born in the US they deserve in state tuition benefits no matter that their parents are illegal. They after all are legal citizens.

bluebayou · 11-01-2009, 10:13 AM

From a practical matter, the number of illegals attending the Big U are small. UC doesn't require documentation from any kid who attends for three years and graduates from a California HS. These kids recieve instate tuition, regardless of citizenship. But, the numbers are really small since UC is expensive and finaid is non-existent for undocumenteds. Heck, I would guess that UC has more rich internationals attending at instate rates than undocumenteds.

littlegreenmom · 11-01-2009, 10:56 AM

bluebayou,

Please do share the way rich internationals (or any internationals) can attend UC at in-state rates. I haven't ever heard of that happening. I personally know an international high school exchange student (not rich) that would very much like to attend in the US and is struggling to figure out how to do it with limited financial resources!

First, they have to establish residency in CA for one full year before attending school.

Quote:

Who is a Resident
If you are an adult student (18 years of age, or older) you may establish residence for tuition purposes in California if you satisfy all four requirements below:

1) *Eligibility. You are eligible to establish residence if you are a:

a) U.S. citizen
b) Permanent resident or other immigrant
c) Nonimmigrant who is not precluded from establishing a domicile in the U.S. Non- immigrants who are not precluded from establishing a domicile in the U.S. include those who hold valid visas of the following types: A, E, G, H-1, H-4, I, K, L, N, NATO, O-1, O-3, R, T, U, or V

*NOTICE: Students who are not citizens of the United States must demonstrate a valid legal status that does not preclude the establishment of a domicile in the U.S. in order to begin the University’s 366 day duration period (i.e., physical presence coupled with intent)

2) Physical Presence. To establish residence you must be physically present in California for more than one year (366 days) immediately prior to the residence determination date of the term for which you are trying to classify as a resident.

3) Intent. You must have come here with the intent to make California your home as opposed to coming to this state to go to school. Physical presence within the state solely for educational purposes does not constitute the establishment of California residence, regardless of the length of your stay. You must demonstrate your intention to make California your home by severing your residential ties with your former state of residence and establishing those ties with California. If these steps are delayed, the one year duration period will be extended until you have demonstrated both presence and intent for one full year.

4) Financial Independence. If your parents do not meet the University's requirements for residence for tuition purposes, you are required to be financially independent in order to be a resident for tuition purposes.

Your residence cannot be derived from your spouse, registered domestic partner, or your parents.

There is no federal or state financial aid offered to these students. While some campuses have scholarships for internationals, the word I have heard from admissions deans in the UC system is that internationals have to expect they will pay full-freight.

And if they are "rich", they probably aren't too concerned about getting in-state tuition, anyway.

northeastmom · 11-01-2009, 11:26 AM

Perhaps Corizine should first focus on how to make NJ public colleges affordable to the residents who are here legally! I do not think that costs of over $23,000 for instate COA (NJ) is affordable.

sryrstress · 11-01-2009, 11:36 AM

Illegal aliens who work with false documents create an incredible nightmare. They may be having social security/medicare deducted. Into whose account is it being deposited? Yeah, the person who legally is the owner of the SSN. I've had several clients run into this problem, and they were completely unaware of it until they went to claim their social security. It can take years and massive legal expenses to untangle.

As for federal tax withheld, that will depend on the number of exemptions they enter on their W-4 form. A family of 5 can earn roughly $33,000 and owe NO federal income tax. If most illegal aliens are earning low wages and have several children, they are NOT paying federal income taxes.