Tution for children of illegals is NOT FREE! It’s called in-state tuition. Get your facts straight because you are 100% wrong on this issue.
THere is no free taxpayer subsidized college money for illegal immigrants in Texas.
The Texas college system charges a premium for out-of-state students. Students who have lived in the state, and therefore whose parents have been paying state taxes, do not have to pay the premiums. They pay the "in-state" tuition rate, which apparently in Texas covers the incremental costs of a student at the schools. (I know that in some states the college costs are subsidized for in-state pupils).
If a child has attended texas high schools the required number of years, and has maintained a solid grade, and qualifies for a state institution, they pay the full in-state tuition for that school, without regard to whether they are considered legal or illegal.
The state loses no money from allowing the students to attend college. The state actually receives money from these students, which pays the salaries of the workers at the schools. This isn't a handout.
Interestingly, there is a federal law that requires a state which allows illegals to pay in-state tuition based on residence must also allow every citizen the same in-state tuition. I would note that this is a clear violation of federalism and state's rights -- the right of a state to decide for themselves who they want to give discounts to. We conservatives tend to applaud THIS particular usurpation of a state's right to spend their OWN state's money as they see fit, because we just hate illegal immigrants that much.
But the Texas law is not based on residence, it is based on successful attendance in a Texas high school. Any kid from ANY state who attends a Texas high school gets the same treatment (and yes, there are kids who are residents of other states who attend texas high schools and get this treatment, mostly children of members of the armed services but also some parents like Texas schools and pay for their children to attend instead of their home-state schools across the border).
Anyway, it would be a real shame if a great conservative leader was rejected by voters who will love what he does as President, simply because they are upset about a few thousands kids a year getting in-state tuition at state colleges.
Even Aggies have had it with Perry's In-State-Tuition grants to Illegals!!!
source: www.aggieconservatives.org
Petition Governor Perry to Call Special Legislative Session to End In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants
The Honorable Rick Perry
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711
Dear Governor Perry:
I am deeply disappointed that Texas tax dollars are being used to subsidize the college tuition of illegal immigrants in the state of Texas. The Texas government, especially in these troubling economic times, should not be subsidizing the higher education of adults who cannot legally work in the United States.
Governor Perry, I request you to immediately call a special session of the Texas Legislature in order to end the policy of providing in-state tuition and financial aid for illegal aliens at Texas public universities.
Thousands of United States citizens are currently paying $20,000/year more than illegal immigrants to attend college in Texas; illegal immigrants are also receiving tuition waivers and state financial aid. As a candidate running for the office of President of the United States of America, I ask you to put the interests of American citizens before the interests of citizens of foreign countries, especially those foreign citizens residing in the United States illegally.
Please end this unfair policy, which harms
The truth is they are NOT getting free tuition. They are paying the same amount for their college as other TX residents.
There is an important distinction. Your premise is a LIE.
Also, keep in mind that in order to get into a State College in Texas as a Freshman you have to be in the top 10% of your graduating class. The likelihood that anyone in a village in Mexico is planning to come to Texas to get a discount at UT is laughable. They are coming here to get jobs and because Narco-Terrorist are killing them by the thousands. Until we fix Mexico and the border they are going to keep coming. That is not Rick Perry's job. He wants the job, but it isn't his yet. The fact is that the US Government has not given a damn about the US-Mexican border since Patton was here trying to kill Pancho Villa.