(MA Gov. Deval) Patrick endorses in-state tuition for illegal immigrants

[pampango]

http://www.boston.com/Boston/metrodesk/2011/07/immigrants/yqZmSrqpFkygD2dueenSVL/index.html

Governor Deval Patrick injected new life into the debate over in-state tuition for illegal immigrant students today when he unexpectedly showed up at a packed hearing and urged the state Legislature to change the law. Flanked by aides and security, Patrick surprised the joint education committee and a crowd of more than 100 people by urging passage of legislation that would allow illegal immigrant students to pay the same price as other Massachusetts residents at state colleges and universities. Now, illegal immigrants pay the non-resident rate, which is double or triple the price, depending on the school.

“I know they’re going to hear the arguments on both sides. They’re going to hear the theories. They’re going to hear the context of national immigration debates,” he said. “But they should keep in mind we’re talking about real people – individuals, students and families – whose ambitions are caught up in the only community in most cases that they know.”

Today’s move signaled a bolder approach for Patrick on illegal immigration, an issue that has deeply divided the state Legislature. Just last month Patrick defied the US government and rejected the controversial federal program known as Secure Communities, because it was deporting immigrants who did not have criminal histories.

“They’re still here illegally. … We’re not in a position to give away benefits to people who are truly not eligible for them because they are not residents,” said Christen Varley, president of the Greater Boston Tea Party, which vowed to fight the bills, though she could not attend the hearing. “If you’re not a legal resident of the state, you’re not entitled to in-state tuition. That’s as simple as it is.”

Twelve states, including most recently Connecticut and Illinois, allow such students to pay in-state tuition.

With a Democratic margin of 128 to 32 in the House and 36 to 4 in the Senate, it should be interesting to see how the legislature reacts to Patrick's endorsement.

Connecticut and Illinois which most recently adopted laws like this both have Democratic legislatures and governors like Massachusetts. Certainly is a sharp contrast to states like Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina which are controlled by republicans and have gone in the opposite direction.

[bottomofthehill]

1. I know this is bad (selfish in some ways) but

i still have a hard time with this one. If you live in LA and want to go to U-Mass medical, you pay out of statr, but if you are here as an undocumented worker from Jurez Mexico, you pay in-state. I just have a problem with it

[polmaven]

2. To me, it is very similar to

The Dream Act....If a child was brought here by his or her parents, having no say, of cxourse, in the matter, and grows up here, xcan s/he really considered an illegal immigrant? Those students should be allowed to pay in-state tuition. I will agree with you about their parents, though.