Everyone deserves a chance to go to college.
Unfortunately, sometimes it simply is not possible to be able to go.
There are many different barriers, but the price of tuition is a universal constant, even more so if one is the child of an undocumented immigrant and forced to pay higher out of state tuition fees.
No matter the stance on illegal immigration, it is clear that these children should not be punished for wanting to go to college and become legal, educated citizens.
Missouri Senator Jolie Justus (D-Jackson) is trying to make the dream of college an affordable reality for these undocumented children, and The Current applauds her effort.
Her proposal, SB783, would make sure that Missouri students who are living in the U.S. without proper documentation would receive in-state tuition rates at Missouri’s public colleges and universities.
At a committee hearing last week, no one spoke against the bill, which is as it should be. A bill like this can and will benefit Missouri and Missourians in multiple ways.
It would help keep Missouri competitive on the national scale—10 other states, including Illinois, Kansas and Nebraska, already have similar laws.
It would give undocumented high school students another option after high school, instead of looking forward to a life after graduation without legal documentation to work, and therefore no ability to afford college.
The bill would help to prevent high school dropouts. After all, why even bother with high school if there is no possibility of a real job or continuing education afterward? Supporters of the bill say it will aid in preventing gang activity and will keep kids engaged in the classroom.
There are a few stipulations. In order to qualify for the in-state tuition rate, the children of undocumented immigrants have to graduate from high school and live with a parent or guardian during high school. They also have to have gone to a Missouri high school for at least two years.
On top of that, an affidavit must be filled out, indicating that the student will actively apply for permanent U.S. residency.
The affidavit would be filed with their college or university of choice.
Justus has been sponsoring this bill for the past two years.
Ironically enough, two years ago Missouri lawmakers approved various restrictions on illegal immigration. Thankfully, they passed over a proposal that would have prevented undocumented immigrants from even attending college.
Committee chairman David Pearce (R-Warrensburg) has told Justus that if she is able to drum up enough support for the bill among the Senate Education Committee, he will schedule a vote on it.
The Current knows that only good things can come of this bill, and Justus should be commended for fighting for it.
It is The Current’s hope that the senators in the committee will throw their support behind this bill.
This bill is sorely needed, and certainly past due. The faster this bill is made into a law, the better for Missouri students, and the better for Missouri.
As a weekly reader of The Current, the first item I turn to is the opinions section. Typically, I agree with the editorial article but not this time. Not only should ILLEGAL persons not be entitled to in-state tuition they should not even be able to enroll in a public high school or university.
1. Public universities are paid for in part by tax dollars generated by the state. That is the reason citizens pay a smaller amount than non-citizens; they are already paying part of the bill through tax dollars. Currently Missouri is having difficulty balancing the budget and must cut programs to match the shrinking tax revenue. The fact that a Missouri senator is proposing the state spend money to help criminals go to college is not only absurd but financially irresponsible.
2. The difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition would be only part of the bill. State workers will be needed to review and approve that the stipulations have been met — meaning more Missouri tax dollars would be necessary to oversee the program.
3. Do Missourians actually believe that an individual who entered the country illegally would have any problem lying on an affidavit to get reduced tuition? Rewarding individuals who break the law increases (not decreases) lawlessness.
4. What’s next pell grant money and stafford loans?
5. Or better yet, maybe a scholarship fund could be set up specifically for people who shouldn’t be here but are and should be sent back and made to follow proper entry procedures but aren’t. No doubt there would be a lot of applicants.
Christine
illegal means breaking the law…what kind of message does this send to americans when you allow illegals to break the law and get away with it?
we americans work hard as is, but to give illegals a break when they aren’t even supposed to be here?
there is nothing wrong with immigration, as long as its done legally. we just don’t have the resources to cover illegals on top of americans (who end up coming second)
Actually you never stop to think how these “illegal” students came to America. Most of the undocumented students who graduate high school and cannot further their education, were brought illegally from other parts of the world by their parents which they had no say in! Is it their faults that there family brought them to a supposedly better place to make a future and then be turned down after going to school for years and not being able to better their lives, just because they don’t have a papers?
Its selfish to think no one else deserves a better future just because they were brought into this country illegally! facts are illegals are the ones working low paying jobs to support their families. They also pay taxes but never receive any back because the lack of papers. UC Berkeley’s Birgeneau said bilingual, bicultural, academically gifted immigrant students are precisely the kind of talent California needs to succeed in the global economy. Children of illegal immigrants who make it into California colleges are particularly impressive because they’ve had so many obstacles to overcome.
And many know only the United States as their home, having left their native countries at very young ages.
“When people say, ‘Oh, send ‘em all back’ — we’re not sending them all back,” he said. “People aren’t telling the truth. We would have to use all our law enforcement resources. We couldn’t go after gang bangers, we couldn’t go after auto theft. We’d have to use every single law enforcement officer to go around and round up folks who are working at restaurants.”-Obama
I am in fact a 20 year old student born in the united states whose parents are immigrants and researching and trying to find a way to help these “illegals” as you may call them. I am a Dream Act Supporter