Illegal immigrants who enroll in the University of California system are charged in-state tuition, WHY?

Question

if my friend from out of state, moved to california legally, why would she have to pay a higher tuition to go to a university, than a f*cking illegal immigrant.. wtf, how are they even allowed to enroll??

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1219/p02s01-ussc.html

Good Point FAYEKINNIT!!!!!

Answer 1

First of all, there is a difference between undocumented and illegal! You seem, along with the media, miss that distinction!

Secondly, all of those getting lower tuition graduated from a California high school! I suspect your friend from out of state did not!

"The University of California system, for one, rejects the charges. "Our policy is consistent with federal law," says Ricardo Vazquez, a university spokesman. He calculates that just a few hundred of the 10-campus network's 208,000 students could be categorized as illegal immigrants who receive tuition discounts. Undocumented students, he says, must pass criteria, such as having graduated from a California high school and signing an affidavit that they are seeking legal status, before being admitted and offered in-state tuition rates."

These are the things that incites people! These are children who graduated from a California High School! Your friend isn't eligible for a California resident discount!

Answer 2

I myself am a Hispanic American. I am possitive that immigrants are only allowed to finish Highschool in the USA not matter what state they're in. If you are an Immigrant, you are NOT allowed to ENROLL in a College or a University without a Green Card or a valid Social Security number.

Suppose they are allowed to go into college being immigrants I believe they should pay for an out of state tuition, but then there is the thing that if you live in the state for a year you become part of the state.

Answer 3

She can establish residency after one year. So next year her tuition should be different.

"...They also contribute to the U.S. economy 25 billion more than they receive in healthcare, etc., etc., etc. According to the anti-immigrant politicians and hatemongers, "immigrants are a drain on society." :)..."


Where are you getting these numbers from???

If this is the case why is it the only state that has problems with immigration has hospitals that are going bankrupt and social service systems overloaded.

"...report 90 billion, and only are reimbursed 5 billion, "where are the 85 billion?"..."

again these numbers you state "report" what amount did they pay? there is a difference between reporting income and and what you actually pay in taxes.

"...If you think being undocumented [illgeal] is something to brat or be happy about, why won't you see how an undocumented person lives and suffers working day and night for everyone else. And I don't know what you are talking about high wages, but you are wrong girl..."

No one is disputing suffering and people are suffering all over the world. The AIDS epidemic in Africa. Are you using that argument to bring awareness to end the epidemic of suffering all over the world or just for people that look like yourself.

Answer 4

Everybody should pay the same, their are students that come from all over the world to study here, and they are not legal they have student visas and I think they have to pay the same price as the other students or more. So I don't understand why they get a discount and the other students that come on visas have to pay the same, they aren't citizens either. But if they are living here illegally they should not be allowed to enter college. they are breaking the law by being here, why aren't they deported, with their families. ICE no's where they are. This is what I mean they are not doing their jobs, I live in San Diego, they just had a sweep of the canyons and got rid of the encampments the illegals have set up, they didn't call ICE or Border Patrol, they are finding them a place to live, the police just let them go. It's all a lie.

Answer 5

Because California tried to enact state laws denying state benefits to illegal immigrants, and those state laws were preempted by Congress.

Congress as determined that only the federal government may enact laws that affect immigration status, so state attempts to address the problem are invalidated.

Specifically, in your question, the in-state residency laws are based purely on how long the person has been in-state, and (as noted above) must be applied regardless of immigration status.

{EDIT to cantcu}
Having studied some immigration law myself, I'm curious as to the distinction you draw between undocumented aliens and illegal aliens. Being a big advocate for recognizing legal distinctions, can you clarify your source for that statement?

Answer 6

1. Because it's the law - if they can prove residence in Calif, they are Calif citizens. Just like *every* other state. What part of immigration being a FEDERAL ISSUE does your friend not understand?
2. Because the UC system does not and is not allowed to ask for immigration, or proof of citizenship papers (unless you are on an education visa applying for financial aid.) Same with public hospitals.
3. Because there are an insignificant number of actual illegal immigrants in the UC system.
4. Because counterfeit documents are so easy to acquire and they are very convincing that most people, including UC admissions offices, would not know the difference.

Immigration is a FEDERAL issue. States are very restricted in what they can do with illegal immigrants, except hand them over to federal immigration officers -- who, by the way, are working on the War on Terror. By the way, do you walk around with your birth certificate to prove you are US citizen?

Finally, it is a political issue. There are large political donors & activists from both parties who do not want to solve the illegal immigration problem. Corporate agriculture, meat packing, hotel industries, construction, etc would suffer a labor problem if the immigration issue were addressed head-on. On the other side, the backlash and loss of votes from minority groups would be huge if the immigration issued were addressed seriously.

Why single out the UC system? Check with other states' public universities and you will find a similar situation.

BTW, your language conveys more anger than understanding of the issue.

Answer 7

Immigrants contribute 7 billion in social security per year. they earn 240 billion, report 90 billion, and only are reimbursed 5 billion, "where are the 85 billion?"

They also contribute to the U.S. economy 25 billion more than they receive in healthcare, etc., etc., etc. According to the anti-immigrant politicians and hatemongers, "immigrants are a drain on society." :)

Why are you concerned..and why do you care? Are you jealous or something?

If you think being undocumented [illgeal] is something to brat or be happy about, why won't you see how an undocumented person lives and suffers working day and night for everyone else. And I don't know what you are talking about high wages, but you are wrong girl.

Did you know that most of the undocumented people in the U.S. have minimum or below minimum wage pay? Make some more research girl and then come back and make a better and not racist question.

Analyze the issue and compare both sides not just your side and what you think :)

Answer 8

they're charged in-state tuition because they've graduated from California high schools. Its common sense, people. The Supreme Court maintains that these kids have the right to education and that the states are sovereign in areas such as education. Know the law before spouting off...

Answer 9

Because those illegal students are still residents of California. The rules that determine residency are the same for EVERYBODY. You have to graduate from a CA high school, or demonstrate that you've lived in the state for a certain number of years (IIRC). It doesn't matter your citizenship or place of birth. In other words, your friend who came from out of state can live in CA for the required number of years before enrolling, and she can have the in-state tuition too.

Answer 10

They live in California, pay California taxes. It is that simple. They qualify for in state tuition just like a citizen.

How do they get in? They graduate from high school, take the SAT, get good enough grades to be admitted.

What other qualifications were you looking for?