Posted on 07/24/2005 6:13:45 AM PDT by Shawndell Green
Enrollment has increased ninefold since the state allowed them to pay lower tuition
Texas public colleges have seen a spike in enrollment of illegal immigrants since state lawmakers approved a measure allowing them to pay lower in-state tuition rates.
The number of illegal immigrants attending public institutions, particularly community colleges, has increased ninefold since the change was adopted, according to Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board data.
In 2001, Texas became the first state to offer in-state tuition and state financial aid to illegal immigrants. Eight other states, including California and New York, have since adopted similar measures.
State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, who co-sponsored the Texas legislation, said she's pleased to see the strong enrollment patterns.
"Every single student that gets a higher education is going to be able to earn more. That's a great big economic stimulator," she said.
The law also allows these students to be eligible for state financial aid, but it is not known how many benefited from state loans and grants.
Group opposes fees Late last year, the state comptroller reported that more than 82,000 freshmen were denied state grants because there was not enough money for all eligible students.
Groups such as the Federation for American Immigration Reform, based in Washington D.C., oppose giving such opportunities to illegal immigrants.
"These are people illegally in the country who are not entitled to work legally, so investing higher education in them makes no sense," said Jack Martin, the organization's special project director.
"Secondly, because admission spaces are limited, Texas residents are being denied entry, ... and third, it makes no sense to ask Texas taxpayers to support with in-state tuition persons who do not belong in the country," he said.
There were 3,700 illegal immigrants enrolled and paying in-state tuition at Texas' public institutions of higher education by fall 2004, according to the state data. In fall 2001, the first semester this benefit was available, 393 illegal immigrants paid in-state tuition.
Houston has high growth The growth could be sharper because it appears that some institutions did not report the enrollment of these students to the state. The highest growth was at the University of Houston, which enrolled 146 illegal immigrants in fall 2004, and Dallas Community College, which had 744 enrolled.
Texas residents would pay an average of $4,847 in tuition and fees for the coming school year at public universities, far less than the $12,927 charged out-of-state residents. At community colleges, the average in-state cost would be $1,631, compared with $3,405 for nonresidents, according to the coordinating board.
University officials say they are just obeying the law by admitting illegal immigrants.
"Being a public university, we're bound by state law to admit those students if they meet our academic requirements," A&M spokesman Lane Stephenson said.
Augustine Garza, deputy director of admissions at the University of Texas at Austin, said his office does not look at these students' applications differently. "We treat them all exactly the same," he said. "If it's a law, we would be obligated to follow the law."
Most illegal immigrant students are enrolled in community colleges.
Edgar, an 18-year-old Fort Worth resident who came here illegally from Mexico with his family six years ago, has taken two semesters at Tarrant County College and plans to enroll again for the fall semester.
Edgar, who asked that his last name not be used, said his high school guidance counselor told him that he could pay in-state tuition and apply for state financial aid.
"I want to have something I can offer to my children, you know, to my wife. That's why I'm going to school right now," he said. "If I don't get a career, where am I going to be at? Am I going to be working at McDonald's all my life?"
Equal opportunity
Edgar said he received enough state grant money to pay nearly all of his tuition.
He said he's aware of views such as that of Federation for American Immigration Reform but said he doesn't believe anyone should be held back. He said many Americans pass up the chance to go to college, so the opportunities should go to the willing.
Melissa Lazarin, an education-policy analyst for the National Council of La Raza, said her organization is working to reintroduce a bill to Congress that would make federal financial aid to college available to illegal immigrants.
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, has filed a similar bill and said illegal immigrant students shouldn't be punished for being brought here illegally when they were young.
If in state tuition is a "right", for "undocumented" students, then out of state students need to to stop declaring they're from out of state.
How about lowering taxes instead so everybody has an easier time EARNING their way through college.
I wonder how many terrorists we are educating?
Time to move on that tamper-proof national ID card.
If not a national ID, then force the states to upgrade their driver license depts./ birth certificate depts. to the point that they will be foolproof. (or best possible)
Any state that refuses to switch to tamper proof systems should be penalized.
And lastly, the US Congress critters must, MUST pass laws which force states or local police to lock up (or at least notify the Immigration dept) when an illegal immigrant is caught or identified.
Know your enemy:
i was accepted to a ph.d. program, but did not get in-state tuition. out-of-state tuition is $10,000.
i'm one of the few white americans who grew up hoeing beets and beans with mexicans as a kid.
And after going to college they will still be illegal aliens and they will not be legally entitled to work in the U.S. Then what? Another round of sob stories and we give them amnesty?
Dang Ken! You too?
I could'nt get into Lettuce Picking 101. Class was full.
This ol' crap has gotta stop.
Maybe I should type in lower case-only too?
lower case came from using darpa in the 1980s.
ADD: There goes our hopes for PHd's!
correction: "phd's'. you darpa-dogs!
final add:
my sides!
Eventually, some Democrat will nominate one to the Supreme Court. [/s]
Its a Gotdam shame when an American kid cant afford a college education and we give breaks to illegals. Why can an illegal from another country get in-State tuition when an American from another state cant get the same break.
This Shiite isnt right.
Eventually, some Democrat will nominate one to the Supreme Court. [/s]
Naw. Hitlery will put one in charge of the Education Department.
Its a Gotdam shame when an American kid cant afford a college education and we give breaks to illegals. Why can an illegal from another country get in-State tuition when an American from another state cant get the same break.
This Shiite isnt right.
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My, how y'all talk. Don't you know that these po' folks got to send money back to mama in Mxko? They need their edukaton in order to do that, boy!
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