Calif. court upholds in-state tuition for illegals (Los Angeles: private school, universities)

[Cyanna]

"LOS ANGELES | Mon Nov 15, 2010 3:00pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The California Supreme Court on Monday upheld a state law allowing illegal immigrants to pay lower in-state tuition rates at state colleges and universities.

The unanimous decision overturns a lower-court ruling that said the law unfairly favors illegal immigrants over U.S. citizens who lived in other states and must pay much higher tuition.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Jerry Norton)"

How do you think this will affect higher learning in Ventura County? Is this unfair, considering the higher tuition rates out-of-state legal citizens have to pay to attend our colleges and universities? What about foreign students who come here legally on Student Visas for an education and have to pay higher tuitions due to their non-resident status?

[LadyKLO]

I think this will go back to the chopping block....it doesn't make much sense to me...I am actually shocked but we shall see..time will tell. I went to a private university so everyone paid the same amount whether in state or out of state but at a public institution, I find this rather....how do I say...strange???? The students that come here from other countries legally pay an arm and a leg for tuition and then, look at the students from other states that come here and pay the higher rate...is that fair....umm.....

[Cyanna]

I hope it does go to the chopping block. This is unfair in so many ways. My son and his fiancee will be coming back from the UK in January. She will be here on a LEGAL long-term visitor visa, which she would later like to change to a student visa, but the costs for her to attend the local college will be astronomical. I'm tempted to tell her to allow her Visa to expire and then enroll as an illegal!

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Cyanna

I hope it does go to the chopping block. This is unfair in so many ways. My son and his fiancee will be coming back from the UK in January. She will be here on a LEGAL long-term visitor visa, which she would later like to change to a student visa, but the costs for her to attend the local college will be astronomical. I'm tempted to tell her to allow her Visa to expire and then enroll as an illegal!

Let's face it, those here legally, who have waited thier turn don't count. It is only those who have snuck across the border or gotten here some other way illegally that need advanced educations according to some in California.

Obviously I am not happy about this!!!

Nita

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

I have an idea, how about not allowing them an education at all of any kind. Our public education is for those that are here legally. Our in state college system is subsidized as it is. Why give someone that is here illegally a benefit? Just doesn't make any sence.

[LadyKLO]

I agree with everyone!

[user_id]

This is being used for political purposes, the headlines are often intentionally vague, implying that California is giving in-state tuition to anybody that crosses the border.

Anyhow there are two separate things, 1.) legal status in the US, 2.) residency in California. This will allow people that are 2.) to get in-state tuition even if they are not 1.). From California's point of view this isn't that odd, these people are really no different than other California residents. They have, or their caretakers have, been paying taxes to California for years.

California has no control over 1.), it can't grant people legal status in the US.

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

Why give someone that is here illegally a benefit? Just doesn't make any sence.

Because they are only "illegal" under federal law, in terms of California they are "legal". From this perspective it makes a good deal of sense, federal immigration policy is horrible, but nobody wants to address it.

[user_id]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Let's face it, those here legally, who have waited thier turn don't count. It is only those who have snuck across the border or gotten here some other way illegally that need advanced educations according to some in California.

Obviously I am not happy about this!!!

Your portrayal is not accurate, this ruling will treat people the same regardless of their federally determined immigration status. The ruling is basically ignoring federal immigration status in favor or state residency status.

Its a very interesting debate actually, one that is effecting Arizona as well. In both cases the states are sidestepping the feds, of course Arizona and California are on opposite sides, California favors a more open immigration policy where as Arizona the opposite.

[DowntownVentura]

Originally Posted by user_id

Your portrayal is not accurate, this ruling will treat people the same regardless of their federally determined immigration status. The ruling is basically ignoring federal immigration status in favor or state residency status.

Its a very interesting debate actually, one that is effecting Arizona as well. In both cases the states are sidestepping the feds, of course Arizona and California are on opposite sides, California favors a more open immigration policy where as Arizona the opposite.

This is an interesting perspective

[Cyanna]

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

I have an idea, how about not allowing them an education at all of any kind. Our public education is for those that are here legally. Our in state college system is subsidized as it is. Why give someone that is here illegally a benefit? Just doesn't make any sence.

I agree. Technically, as well as legally, illegal immigrants do not even hold residency status because they do not have a visa granting this priviledge. Therefore, they are not residents and should not be allowed the lower in-state tuition. However, LEGAL citizens of this state need to reside here for at least one year before they can receive the benefit of lower in-state tuition. Illgale immigrants should not have ANY access to public education in the United States, nor should they be able to receive special considerations to attend institutions of higher learning. If they want to educate their children here let them PAY to send them to a private school instead of using our tax dollars, which they do not contribute to.