Non-citizens given benefits unavailable to American students
California’s Supreme Court is likely to be the next battleground in the debate over benefits for illegal aliens as the justices agreed to hear arguments regarding the constitutionality of a state law allowing students illegally in the U.S. to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities.
In a letter urging the high court to take up the case, Utah’s Atty. Gen. Mark Shurtleff wrote, “The implications of this decision extend far beyond California, and far beyond a state’s ability to set educational policy, into the heart of the national debate about illegal immigration.”
Martinez vs. Regents of the University of California began with a lawsuit filed in Yolo County in 2005 by out-of-state students and their parents. The lawsuit alleges that education officials are violating federal law by granting in-state tuition to illegal immigrants while not offering the same lower fees to students from outside California.
“U.S. citizens should have at least the same rights as undocumented immigrants,” said one of the plaintiffs, Aaron Dallek, an Illinois native who graduated from UC Berkeley in 2006.
Another plaintiff, 2006 UC Davis graduate Onson Luong, said he didn’t think it was fair that he, as a native of Nevada, had to pay higher tuition than illegal immigrants. Luong, who majored in biotechnology, worked two jobs during college and owes $15,000 in student loans.
“If they are allowing illegals to pay in-state tuition when they aren’t even citizens, what kind of message is that sending?” Luong asked.
The Los Angeles Times gives complete coverage here.
January 5, 2009 at 12:56 pm
The American citizen students and their parents who are paying out-of-state tuition are being scammed by their own government in favor of criminal aliens who snuck into the United States of America in violation of US laws and are gifted with a free pass for their unlawful acts. Trying to grasp the absurdity of such actions against our own nation’s citizens is impossible.
January 5, 2009 at 1:18 pm
It will be a shame if the justices in the land of fruit and nuts rule in favor of the illegals who have violated our laws to gain access to this country. I fear the effects would be so far-reaching as to be devastating.
January 5, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Glad to see that even the Illinois native student, Aaron Dallek, who graduated from the liberal bastion of Berkeley has the sense to realize he is being screwed by the illegal students who get perks he was unable to access.
“U.S. citizens should have at least the same rights as undocumented immigrants,” said one of the plaintiffs, Aaron Dallek,
Great line! It sums up the entire matter quite well.
January 5, 2009 at 4:35 pm
What are the chances a California ruling would affect Arizona or any other state? Does anyone know?
January 6, 2009 at 2:08 pm
The U.S. education system is not operated on behalf of or for the benefit of U.S. citizen students. It is a mechanism for promoting and increasing immigration while perpetuating geographical economic inequities within the country.