The fact that you don't understand why people would be upset about this says everything anyone needs to know about your politics. Illegals are rewarded in Texas vis a vis Americans.
Your claim that they're paying taxes entitles them to this benefit is ridiculous. The studies by serious economists show that illegal immigration is a small, but measurable net drain on the US economy, and a larger, much more serious drain on the economies of border states.
They aren't paying anything when all aspects of their costs to the economy are accurately tallied. They're a net negative.
But even if they weren't, elevating them over American citizens -- whatever the feel good arguments you OH SO COMPASSIONATE Texas "conservatives" are making, and however small the costs is wrong. It's an affront to the rule of law, and the fact that the Plyler decision is wrong isn't any excuse to pile on more injustice.
Incidentally, I'd suggest all you Texicans get on message: one of the answers I've been given in response to this is that residents of Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and a few other states also enjoy discounted tuition in the Lone Star State ... hmmmm ... so those non-residents are paying sales tax in Tejas? How exactly does Tejas levy a property tax on them?
Please.
You're doing something that's morally unjustifiable. It's not lessened because so few avail themselves of it, it's not lessened because some Americans are "graciously" put on the same footing as illegals, and it's not lessened because of a Federal Court decision that all Americans have to live with. All 50 states have to abide by Plyler vs. Doe. Not all of the rest are encouraging illegals by granting them benefits that violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution for other Americans.
Stop making excuses and put an end to it. And stop calling those of us who see it for what it is "heartless." That's BS.
I'll look past your belief that insulting Texans by suggesting we are somehow un-American because we don't give non-tax payers tax payer's rates somehow wins you support, and just address your questions. Illegals do pay state taxes every time they buy something and by being renters the same way everyone else in Texas pays them. As far as a few residents of Texas border states, they do get in-state rates based on economic contributions to our state. Some are deals where states assist Texans secure the US Border, some involve commerce and power purchase from Texas and others are based on proximity that causes them shop in Texas thereby making them tax payers.
The Law does not give other Americans a disadvantage at Texas schools, being non-Texas residence give them that disadvantage, the same disadvantage Texans have in other states. No state anywhere in this country gives in-state tuition to non-residence, it is the residency requirement that makes them eligible and they meet it. Every child in the country is capable of meeting those requirements if they want to come to our schools, all they have to do is get their parents to move to Texas.
I understand that you don't like the law, I don't like it either. I personally think it gives colleges too much power on deciding who is complying and that it should be done case by case so we know that it is helping the people we intended to help not just hoping that it does. But don't characterize it as something its not and don't think that it's OK to question the patriotism of Texans just because you don't like a law they past. We're in the fight which is more than I can so about the majority of Americans who think the problem is "a bunch of Mexicans are stealing their lawn mowing jobs" and contribute by bitching about Rick Perry. Our tax dollars are going to secure the border when they should be going to our classrooms and our roads. It's our cops who are risking their lives and its our citizens that are taking gun fire from across the border. We've got 1.1 to 1.2 million illegals in this state thanks to the un-willingness of the US Citizens to demand that the US Government does its Constitutional duty to stop it. You want to help then help us force the Government close the border because it's not Rick Perry who shut down the electronic frontier, it wasn't Rick Perry who sent the National Guard home, and it damn sure wasn't Rick Perry who is arming them, it is Rick Perry that is using our state dollars to try to stop it.