Posted on 03/16/2011 7:39:11 AM PDT by Puppage
It's a dream for hundreds of Connecticut high school students, but it's out of reach because they are illegal.
Proponents say there's no cost to the state, and kids should not pay for mistakes made by their parents. Opponents say it's full of potential problems.
Lorella Praeli of New Milford is so smart she's been going to Quinnipiac University on grants and scholarships. She now wants to further her education at a state school, but has found a road block because she's illegal.
Her mother brought her here for medical treatment years ago, and stayed when the tourist visa expired. Lorella excelled in high school.
Tuesday, she was joined by dozens of other high-achieving students from around the state who are all here illegally, because they want the break on college tuition that Connecticut residents get at state schools.
Tuition at Southern, for example, for Connecticut residents, is about $8,000 dollars a year. Out of state residents pay about $18,000.
The students at the State Capitol Tuesday came in support of a plan to let them, even though they are undocumented, pay the lower amount.
"My name is Lorrella Praeli, I am undocumented, American, unafraid and unapologetic," she said.
"We would potentially be giving rebates to an individual to get an education who can not be employed in the State of Connecticut under current federal law," Rep. Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) said.
Lorrella, and everyone else who came Tuesday, hope to someday find a path to U.S.citizenship, and want to have a college degree to get a good job.
"Under federal law, there is exposure that we would be required to give every out of state student, in-state tuition rates," said Candelora.
Advocates say similar bills in other states have survived that kind of court challenge, and Governor Malloy has pledged to sign this bill that was vetoed by his predecessor.
"There is a simple argument of equity and justice surrounding this bill, and that's why we should pass it this year, and make it law," said Sen. Martin Looney (D-New Haven).
Undocumented students would only qualify for the in-state tuition rate if they graduated from a Connecticut high school, and had attended Connecticut schools for at least four years.
Riiiiiiiiiight
but has found a road block because she’s illegal.
Then why is she even here?
Why are illegals going to public schools in CT? What the hell is wrong with you people?
It is like something out of the Twilight Zone - break our laws and demand special perks and get rewarded for it.
>Her mother brought her here for medical treatment years ago, and stayed when the tourist visa expired. Lorella excelled in high school.<
This mother is definitely a role model for teaching your kid to break the law. But it’s OK...the daughter “excelled in HS”, so it’s OK. Now pay up, CT.
My wife is from Mexico. She graduated from the University of Texas. Although she was living in Texas(legally) while going to University she was not considered a resident of Texas. Her father paid out of state tuition.
What part of illegal alien does this woman not understand. She is not undocumented, she is an illegal alien. If she were not an illegal alien, she would pay in state tuition.
So, if my kids want to go to a CT college, as out of state students, we “should” pay more than an illegal? Interesting perspective. I will never understand the liberal mindset that thinks this is even open to discussion. I can understand “one price fits all” where we pay the same for gas. I can understand a reduced rate for in state students, since their parents support the college with their tax dollars. How do they justify higher rates for law-abiding citizens of other states than for criminals from another country?
Why not the children of rapists & murderer? Is being an illegal alien a socially accepted law breaker?
"There is a simple argument of equity and justice surrounding this bill, and that's why we should pass it this year, and make it law," said Sen. Martin Looney (D-New Haven).
The argument is more simple than that....THEY'RE ILLEGAL!
Shessh....Martin Looney. Aptly named.
and this state is going to tax coupons?
The costs to Americans to subsidize these parasitic illegals grows each day.
THE ILLEGAL SAGA----RIDING THE US GRAVY TRAIN An illegal alien w/ wife and five children violates our borders. He gets a job mowing lawns for $5.00 or 6.00/hour. At that low wage, with six dependents, he pays no income tax, so each year, he files an Income Tax Return to get "EITC---earned income credit" of up to $3,200 scot-free.
He qualifies for Section 8 housing and subsidized rent. He qualifies for food stamps and no deductible, no co-pay free health care. His children get free school breakfasts and lunches.
The kids qualify for monthly SSI checks, faking ADD; the illegal and his wife get SSI if they fake being aged, blind or disabled; SSI qualifies them for Medicare.
Plus illegals don't worry about pricey items like car insurance, life insurance, or homeowners insurance, and qualifies for relief from high energy bills.
ALL OF THAT IS COLLECTED WITH JUST ONE IDENTITY Evidence shows illegals establish several identities with phony SS nos and fake documents (which these "poor immigrants" buy from document brokers for several thousand dollars).
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Earned Income Tax Credit is available only to immigrant workers who obtain legal work status. But the law allows immigrants to claim EITC for up to three years prior to obtaining that status. Workers simply file a tax return for the years in which they were not legally eligible to work in the US.
The most widespread abuse stems from the requirement that children live with the worker for more than six months of the year. IRS does little to verify the claim.
Many immigrants claim non-existent children, or claim children who they’ve left behind with relatives. Those with two or more children and income below $32,121 could get as much as $4,008. It is estimated that illegals got $22 billion EITC last year alone.
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The Mexican govt's thievery----to drain the US Treasury into the pockets of federales in their hellhole of a country----continues apace. The govt cues in invaders on how to get free rent, food, health care, ob care for their Anchor Babies, mothers, fathers, extended families, etc etc etc........
In many states: Free Medical Care
In State Tuition
Unemployment Compensation
Senior Medicare
Gee with so many benefit for staying here. Why don't we take away American Jobs and give just it to them? Then we can start having permanent Illegal Immigrant communities.
Gee, a liberal/Democrat dream! A great way to by Votes.
Actually, I think it is illegal under Federal law to give in state tuition to anyone not currently a legal citizen. Something about equal protection under the law. It is simple, if someone from NY cannot get taxpayer subsidized tuition from the state of CT, why should someone from Mexico?
You forgot free drivers licenses & bank accounts.
Might as well. Look at what that CT education has done for those CT Democrats.
Makes sense.
“and kids should not pay for mistakes made by their parents”
I thought the issue was - Should kids benefit from the illegal, criminal misconduct by their parents?
A question much closer to the situation with a legal environment substantially different from the quote.
For all these, I thank a Liberal. Naught!
No one addresses whether or not the American taxpayer should pay for the mistakes of the parents.....and the mistakes of Congress for allowing this to go unchecked.
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