Illegal immigrants who graduated from state high schools can continue to receive lower, in-state tuition at California's public universities and colleges, the California Supreme Court decided unanimously Monday.
The ruling is the first of its kind in the nation. California is one of 10 states that permit undocumented immigrants to receive in-state tuition, which can save them $23,000 a year at the University of California.
"Throughout the country, the California court decision will have reverberations," said Daniel J. Hurley, director of state relations and policy analysis for the American Assn. of State Colleges. He predicted that it would discourage challenges to similar policies in other states.
Federal law prohibits illegal immigrants from receiving college benefits based on residency and not provided to all citizens.
A lawyer for the conservative Pacific Legal Foundation, which sided with the challengers in the case, said the ruling failed to acknowledge "clear tension between federal law and the state's special financial benefits for illegal immigrant students." The case is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"California is not in sync with the federal mandate against giving Brownie points for being an illegal immigrant," said Ralph Kasarda, an attorney with the foundation.
But state officials insist that there is no conflict with federal law. Under California's nonresident tuition exemption, approved in 2001, public colleges can offer in-state tuition to those who attended California high schools for at least three years. Some of those students are illegal immigrants. Others are U.S. citizens who attended high school in California but whose families may now live elsewhere, or those who moved out of the state to study or attended boarding schools in California.
Written by CAA National
Illegal Immigrants in California are not only able to attend college, but pay a lower rate than other Americans from out of state.
California to Give Equal Tuition Assistance to “Illegal” Immigrants… As State Tuitions Rise and State is Bankrupt
The California Supreme Court has upheld legislation that allows illegal immigrants to receive the same tuition assistance as U.S. citizens. The California Legislature passed the controversial measure in 2001 that allowed any student, regardless of immigration status, who attended a California high school for at least three years and graduated to qualify for in-state tuition at the state's colleges and universities. In-state tuition saves each state college student about $11,000 a year and each University of California student about $23,000 a year. While the ruling applies only to California, the case was closely watched nationally because nine other states, including New York and Texas, have similar laws.
The San Francisco Chronicle points out the "unfairness of the federal governments border policies", and how the social needs of the illegal immigrant outweigh the legal arguments. "Through their hard work and perseverance, these students have earned the opportunity to attend UC," said University of California president Mark G. Yudof. "Their accomplishments should not be disregarded or their futures jeopardized."
Many advocates for the measure have argued all along that it is not the student's fault that the federal government has labeled them as "illegal". That federal immigration law is irrelevant, and they have as much right to in state tuition assistance as any other student, regardless of their immigration status. The crux of the matter is this, do we follow law or do we not?
If federal immigration law does not mean anything, pull the U.S. Border Patrol off the line and Immigration and Customs Enforcement out of the interior of the country. Lets allow "migrant workers" from Mexico and Central America determine the course of the United State's policies on immigration, not just social benefits in the state of California. It will save all of us "citizens" a lot of federal tax dollars in the long run.
Golden State to Welfare State – Bracing for Brown
~~ Secure the Border * Enforce the Law ~~
We can only hope that the federal government and other states say NO to any bailouts for California as long as they keep spending without regard to basic economics, common sense and the law of the land… Ooops the same ideologues are running the Federal Government…
In Election 2010 we won the battle… Perhaps we can make a dent in the War Against Insanity and Progressivism in Election 2012???
No comments:
Post a Comment