In-state tuition for undocumented immigrants. Yes or No?
As the fact that America is the most developed country; it creates a
trend of immigration to the States to seek for jobs, educations and better
living standards. Up to now, immigration issues are still at the points that
have been discussed over and over. Talking about how immigrants try to look for
educational opportunities; school tuition is one thing that need to be
addressed. Specifically, since 2001, Texas had offered in-state tuition
opportunity for undocumented immigrants as long as the immigrants have been
Texas residents for at least three years and graduated from high school or
received GED, but this program will be reconsidered to be maintained or
eliminated next year when lawmakers reconvene.
An article from Texas Tribune reported that Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is trying to target on in-state tuition for undocumented
immigrants again in order to get more benefits for citizens first. He spoke
about the skyrocket of college tuition and indicates a variety of changes “including gutting a
requirement that all four-year colleges set aside 20 percent of the tuition
payments they receive to help needy students afford college”. The original
analysis of Campbell’s bill provides that the cost to support this program had
grown 68 percent since 2012, so this program may cause a rising cost for
taxpayers as this rate continues. According to the analysis, in-state benefits for undocumented
immigrants take more slots at four-year universities from U.S citizens. One
more important thing is that this would encourage more people to come to the
state illegally.
On the other perspective of the program
supporters, undocumented immigrants can take lots of advantages out of this
program; less tuition cost makes people less in debt after graduation. The
supporters defend that the immigration status has nothing to do with the
admissions process, so it is pointless to say that this benefit give
undocumented immigrants a higher rate to be accepted in four-years colleges and
steal spots from U.S citizens. As both sides conflict, there is a need to
reconsider these benefits to make both sides satisfied with the consequences.
Personally, this article is worth reading because this is
about educational issues both physically and financially; furthermore,
education is an investment for our futures.
