Why is it easier for an illegal immigrant to get money for college than me?

Question

They keep telling me I "make too much" but yet I still can't afford to finish. An illegal immigrant applies and gets a free full-ride....WTF is going on?? I was born and raised an American but the government won't help me out, they WILL help out someone here illegally. Is it me or is this completely backwards?

Actually illegal immigrants get all kinds of breaks. Do your research. States are passing laws to eliminate out of state fees (which I still have to pay). Some schools are giving scholarships and free tuition out to illegal immigrants like it never ends. Its ridiculous! DO YOUR RESEARCH.

Illegal immigrants shouldn't even be allowed to GO to school, much less have it paid for. For all you "give examples" people, move to Maryland or Virginia, you'll see what I mean.

Actually I did have a fullscholarship to undergraduate school that I did earn GENIUS! This is about grad school.

Ashley G proved my point...grants, scholarships, and loans shoudl go to CITIZENS not ILLEGALS. I dont' make enough to pay for college, I don't know how they determine that!

Answer 1

Because unfortunately our government will help out illegals more than they will American citizens!!! Unreal!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those that want answers, if you would watch the news you would see examples of illegals getting FREE education!!

Answer 2

I'm sympathetic about the problems you are having paying for school. It's hard!
But, I'll need a source or sources before I will believe a illegal immigrant can get a free full ride from the government to go to college!
Please I'd like to see this!!!
It could be true in this day and time, so show me!

Answer 3

Undocumented students have to pay out of state tuition, can't receive any federal student aid, and only have a seldom of scholarships to chose from, so your generalized disparaged statement about illegal immigrants taking your money is invalid.

Answer 4

Almost every middle-class family makes too much money to receive significant financial aid for college. This is why the private student loan industry is booming.

You are asking why the government isn't giving you any money to go to grad school!? Its because they hardly give anyone money for grad school. If you can't afford it take out a loan, or get a job that provides tuition reimbursement/assistance. Heck, work for a University that has tuition remission as a benefit of employment. Or get a fellowship or teaching assistant position. There are tons of ways to finance grad school, but the government usually isn't one of them.

You are grossly incorrect in stating that undocumented immigrants receive government money for college. They don't. You need a legitimate SS# to fill out the FAFSA. I agree with the other responders who said that undocumented immigrants either pay cash for college or receive private funds. In fact, I've worked in academia for years and don't think I've met a single undocumented immigrants graduate student. So, if you aren't getting money from the gov't its not because of competition from undocumented immigrants.

As far as the DREAM act goes, I was under the impression that they tightened up the restrictions about who will qualify and that the maximum age to qualify was in fact 30. And that the DREAM act doesn't actually take anything away from American students while righting a large injustice in immigration law.

Ahh, Rabid Frog. That is an interesting story however the money that they received was institutional money not govt funds. So basically its partial tuition remission and doesn't directly cost the university anything.

Answer 5

That is a blatant, bald faced lie. Why don't you provide facts to show me otherwise? Since I am a legal professional that works in immigration law I don't feel that I need to justify what I believed to be common knowledge.

Not only must an illegal immigrant pay CASH for a college education (NO grants, loans, or scholarships) Most universities won't accept them even if they pay cash up front. Quit trying to find an excuse to not finish school, you can take out a student loan just like all of us Americans can. Unless your too lazy to do so (unfortunately another American trait some of us inherit)

Answer 6

It is amazing how poor you look if your income is entirely untraceable.

Odd how that happens most often with people who don't pay taxes.

My biggest peeve with this bill (the DREAM Act) assuming what they are trying to put in the Labor bill today is in the 'more limited' form it ended up in at the last attempt, is that it is not aimed at only those they are using to justify existance of the bill.

They talk about the 'good' kid who has worked hard, gotten good grades, and would make a good college student but for the fact of their illegal status. They say 'the kid had no choice' in coming.

So why did the DREAM Act contain waivers to let in gang members, those of 'poor moral character' and criminals who would otherwise be barred from immigration here, for 'family unity' and vague 'humanitarian' grounds? That is a HUGE liberalization of our immigration law, across the board. It would let in the gang member sibling of a US born baby, and the parent who brought them here illegally, none of whom fall under the rationale for 'good kids who had no choice.'

The age cut off WHEN LIMITED last time was age 30, which is also not the 'good kid who had no choice'.

I think we have paid enough at our own kids' expense with $10,000 per year per child for education in grades k-12. However, in hopes of finding a better solution that actually funds redress of the IMPACTS of illegal immigration on our own people's reduced services, I would be ok with a limited program directed ONLY at the 'good kids who had no choice'.

That is because, as a parent, I know there is a limited window of time when a kid will go to college rather than settling into a different life path (note that the 30 year olds covered by this bill are past that point), and I don't want those kids coming up to that point in the next few years lost while the debate continues on a hopefully more constructive path.

However, THIS bill is horrible. And if you say 'you haven't read it since it hasn't yet been released', well, whose fault is that?

This 'hide the ball' technique for legislation as opposed to transparent democracy makes it clear that our so called 'representatives' are only representing their own interests, not ours.

If the bill passes in anything like the form it was in last time, with those across the board waivers, the backlash on those who voted for it will be harsh. Many don't even know it is up again, and many more have no idea what a dramatic change of law it would make. However, after the fact, they will know who voted for it.

Answer 7

And if the so called "Dream Act" passes...things will get even EASIER for them and their offspring. It may come up for another vote today. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and other politicians...democrats and republicans alike are determined that this will pass in time to turn a whole slew of illegal aliens into registered voters. Call your senators and congressmen again today.

I'm in total agreement with the schooling issue. Illegal immigrants and their children drain the public education coffers...demanding special programs and even in dealing with all their special needs. That money should be going to OUR children's education. The average child here is alloted $15,000 a year by the state to be educated. Why should illegal immigrants get ANY of that money? They shouldn't even be here.

Answer 8

For all of those who think illegal immigrants don't get to attend college on the taxpayers: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/13687335/detail.html

"FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- At least 10 undocumented students from Colorado will get to attend classes at the University of New Mexico this fall, with many not having to pay for tuition or books."

There are many more examples of this in other states, once again I guess it depends on your state. As for your schooling look into a scholarship head hunter to find special funding that the average person does not know about, it may only be small amounts but every little bit helps you continue your education, don't give up.... By the way I am still paying student loans myself. Good luck

Edit:

Xoil, I would agree with you except for the fact that the University of New Mexico is public funded...... Private schools can do as they wish but public funded schools and universities must answer to the public.

Another link: http://chronicle.com/news/article/3015/state-to-investigate-whether-arizona-state-u-broke-law-on-aid-to-illegal-immigrants

Answer 9

It probably has more to do with the illegal being dirt poor than him/her being illegal. If the illegal came from a family who earned the same as you they would get the same money. Fudning from the government is more about household income than anything else.

Answer 10

I worked at a college, in Miami (not financial aid), and many of the Hispanic students would tell how they got around the income requirements . One young man said that his father worked under the table, so he paid no taxes, his mother worked at a school for minimum wage, so their income tax showed only the mothers income with three exceptions. So most had two parents working, but only the one making minimum wage would show up on their form. Sometimes the parents have a business they showed , but it was a cash business and did not show all their income. Many of the student that got financial aid drove new cars, newer than those who worked there, wore lots of gold jewelry, and traveled often.

Answer 11

A couple of points to your question...

1. Financial aid says you make too much and you want the government to help you? Well that is the price we all are paying for thinking that all taxes are bad. Federal financial aid comes from tax dollars (along with paying for roads, schools, police, military, regulation/safety, and a 1000 other things). With limited resources, there isn't as much financial aid as their used to be.

2. An illegal immigrant applies...(for what are they applying - and through what means?) Financial aid? I would love to see some examples where this has happened.