COMMENTARY | Colorado Democrats are seeking to pass a bill to lower tuition rates for undocumented immigrants who reside here. In the past, they've had to pay three times the resident rate, the same as out-of-state residents. Proponents want find an equitable and fair way for undocumented immigrants who grew up here to pursue higher education because they believe all students in Colorado deserve a fair shot at higher education. But the bill brings up more questions than answers.
An undocumented immigrant's status is fluid depending on individual circumstances, and whether there are immediate family members who are American citizens either by birth or naturalization.
There are no laws prohibiting secondary schools from admitting undocumented students, and every school has its own admission policies. Metro State College of Denver was the first higher education institution in Colorado to adopt the new rate for undocumented students. Section 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Title 8, Chapter 14, Sec. 1623(a)) is clear that if this benefit is offered to undocumented students, out-of-state students are eligible for the same benefit.
A large majority of undocumented students are from Mexico and receive funds from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio's proposals for an overhaul in national immigration policy promise to make sweeping changes in the way America handles immigration, including giving an estimated 12,000,000 undocumented immigrants in the United States a pass for getting a work permit and eventually citizenship.
ASSET asserts that it no extraneous and undue burdens will be placed on colleges and universities.
I don't see the proposed legislation to give undocumented immigrants a break in tuition will provide any incentive to become a U.S. citizen or being fair to U.S. citizens who reside outside our state. The idea that this bill will never affect legal residents who pay taxes is shortsighted at best.
Colorado legislators owe students who are here legally a better deal.
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