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.
Yes, it would be but they seem determined to do it.
Of course the state loses money providing in-state tuition for illegals. All the states lose money on every in-state tuition student they have.