The Right Of Illegal Children In The US To Attend Public Schools - Essay Example

Lecturer: In his article en d "Who Gets the break" Jeff Chu (Time, July 11, 2005) discusses the controversial issue of whether illegal immigrants should qualify for in-state college tuition rates. In summary, he tells us that disparate from the K-12 level, where the 1982 Supreme Court acknowledged the right of illegal children in the U.S. to attend public schools, questions on the availability of higher education for undocumented students have never been fully answered by the federal government. Students without the legal right to be in the United States are not entitled for federal benefits, but that is where any agreement on related federal law ends. The Dream Act, which could affect an estimated 50,000 - 65,000 high school graduates per year by endorsing the capability of states to offer in-state tuition to immigrants residing there illegally and provide a pathway for those who chase a degree to obtain permanent residency, twice failed to get to the floor in Congress. With no federal action on the issue, states have been left to devise their own answers to the tuition controversy, leaving supporters on both sides to prevaricate about the repercussions of the law established by the Federal government in 1996, which restricts states from offering benefits to illegal immigrants that any U.S. citizen would not also be entitled to obtain. In fact, at the time of writing (2005), illegal aliens could qualify for in-state tuition rates in nine states, including Texas and California, as well as Kansas but a lawsuit against the Kansas ruling however, coupled with the failure of eighteen other states approving similar policies, reflected the widespread unease about such benefits. Opponents challenging the law claim: it violates the federal statute as well the equal rights clause within the Constitution; that money is not the issue but that it is more a matter of principal and is regarded by some as a kind of back-door amnesty; that American taxpayers will be forced to pay for illegal aliens to replace their own children in the limited seats in college and are worried that granting one privilege would open the flood gates to other benefits currently held for legal residents, and they believe that we all have dreams and they are taking the places away from American residents/citizens. The counterargument however, is that the undocumented children who graduated with diplomas from U.S. high schools in 2005 should now have the opportunity to enter colleges and universities. They believe that it is in our best interests to educate them and denying the American dream for thousands of students, and considering all the pressure placed on children to excel in school, it is only fair to give them an opportunity to continue their education. However, they cannot afford to pay the out-of-state rates charged by the institutions and should therefore, qualify for in-state rates. From this article we can see that questions relating to in-state tuition abound. The fact of the matter is that the country is deeply divided and, without any direction from Federal government, this fracas in the immigration conflict, this question of whether to grant or deny in-state tuition status to students living in a state illegally, is being contested one to one, state to state, and bill to bill. From my perspective, I think that it is not difficult to workout the reasons why giving financially supported tuition to illegal aliens is extremely unpopular. Parents are paying large amounts of money to send their children to universities and colleges, and people are apt to get concerned when they learn that someone who is in the United States in violation of the law is getting as good or a better deal as their own children. Maybe the real concern is that there will be youngsters who actually jump through all these hoops who, are rewarded for their illegality. The question is, in our society, do we punish kids for what their parents have committed The federal government has not acknowledged its responsibility for a federal issue, and therefore states all across the country are instigating their own legislation. I believe this is inopportune because we have ended up with laws in one state that do not conform to laws in other states and in the midst of these state-by-state debates, students can all too easily evaporate into statistics. Why are we penalizing these children for their parent's illegal standing Assuming they were born here, they are citizens too and are worthy of the rights guaranteed them by the Constitution and equal treatment in the eyes of the government. These children of illegal immigrants should not have to fight more inequalities than they already do. Paying the in-state tuition when they do, in fact, live in the state is merely putting them on the same playing field as you and I. I do not see any reason to punish children or anyone willing to learn regardless of their status. Most of these people who are illegal are not here because they want to be but because of the opportunities that exist here. There are many Americans who do not make use of the opportunities here, but when an outsider does, they resent it. I am a citizen and I will stand behind these illegal kids getting fair treatment. These kids only want an education. It has been stated that their education is being subsidized by legal citizens. I am not so sure that is the case. Public college and university funds come from a variety of sources, such as tuition, taxes, and lotteries to name a few. Tuition is paid by all students as are taxes. An undocumented student still requires a place to live and as such, pay property taxes directly or indirectly; he will spend money in the state and pay sales taxes, and so on. If the student and his family have been living in the state and doing all this for two or three years, then I do not see how their education is being subsidized by someone else. What opponents to these programs do not seem to see is that an illegal student that earns a degree here will be more likely to earn citizenship, become a beneficial earner, and not a burden to taxpayers. If states want to help them along by allowing in-state tuition to those meeting set requirements, then let them. It will probably help with the states' retention of graduates as well, by presenting a welcoming atmosphere to undocumented students. If they are forced out of college, they will likely become or remain a burden on society. Illegal students who can afford in-state tuition frequently cannot afford the much higher rates for non-residents. Young people who do not go to college often end up with dead-end, part-time jobs without health insurance. They end up paying lower taxes and taxing our emergency rooms. It is in all of our interest to educate our youth, regardless of where they were born, so that they can make the greatest possible contributions to society. The arguments from both sides are so clearly defined, repeated so often from state to state, that they are almost clichd: those against in-state tuition rates argue that illegality should not be rewarded through taxpayer support; all inducement for illegal immigration should be repealed; limited stores should be assigned to help U.S. citizens and permanent residents; at the age of eighteen, people are responsible for their own lives and the consequences of their parents' wrongdoings; and, that granting in-state tuition subsidies to illegal immigrants hinders those students who do go through the correct channels and obtain suitable documentation. The arguments from the other side in favor of offering in-state tuition benefits to illegal immigrants say that these students should not be punished for their parents' transgressions; that it is a matter of fairness; that for many young immigrants brought here by their parents this is the only home they have ever known; that in-state tuition is hardly an enticement that would discourage immigration if removed; and that it is to our benefit as a society to guarantee undocumented students have the measures to offer something to a country they can enhance and, in any case, are unlikely to leave. I stand on the side of the supporters and feel their presence in my college will only benefit me and those around me by providing enrichment and opportunity of experiencing first hand, different cultures and new friends. (Words: 1408) Read More