Should illegal immigrants be denied in-state tuition? PRO: UC System should only aid legal residents

This article is part of a PRO/CON opinion piece on education for illegal immigrants. To view the opposing side, see here.

By Eric Zheng
Opinion Editor

As Mira Costa students apply to colleges and universities across the nation, the rising costs of tuition are a principal concern for many. The California Supreme Court’s decision to keep programs providing in-state tuition to illegal immigrants further agitates these concerns.

The decision comes during one of the state’s greatest fiscal crises and after both the California State University and University of California systems announced future increases in tuition of 15 and eight percent, respectively.

The Immigration Reform Law Institute estimates that, as a result of the approximately 25,000 undocumented students in the state’s public colleges who can receive in-state tuition benefits, California universities will lose over $200 million of revenue from tuition. Providing undocumented workers with reduced tuition costs will only enhance the burden on California’s legal citizens.

Though California boasts one of the most prestigious public university systems in the nation, it is quickly becoming unaffordable for many of the state’s legal residents. The rising costs of in-state tuition can be offset partially by revenue from out-of-state tuition, but filling the state’s university systems with undocumented students paying a reduced tuition eliminates this possibility.

Also, the California Supreme Court’s decision raises the moral and legal issue of endowing government benefits to residents who are in the state and country illegally. In addition, as California does not offer uniform tuition rates to in-state and out-of-state students, the California Supreme Court’s decision is in conflict with federal law Title 8, Chapter 14, Sec. 1623, which prohibits illegal immigrants from receiving benefits based on residency and not afforded to all other U.S. citizens.

According to the Office of Immigration Statistics, California currently has over 2 million illegal immigrants living within its borders, more than any other state. However, California is also one of only 11 states in the nation that provides undocumented students reduced tuition costs. Offering increased benefits to undocumented students will only continue to perpetuate the state’s illegal immigration concerns.

Since illegal immigrants do not qualify for federal aid, they do clearly need viable means to access higher education. However, granting in-state tuition to immigrants who are not even legal residents of the state is not appropriate, especially in these economic circumstances. The issue of immigration and economic and educational opportunities for illegal immigrants calls for more federal action, not simply California’s good intentions.

Furthermore, granting illegal immigrants in-state tuition will intensify the economic hardships the majority of the state’s legal residents face. The state’s action will only encourage illegal immigration, aggravate the financial issues of the state’s public universities and hinder the state’s economy.

Alternatives such as the DREAM Act recently endorsed by President Barack Obama are more suitable for the state. The DREAM Act provides illegal immigrants an opportunity to obtain legal residency after two years of military service or four years spent in a university. Fortunately, the act provides undocumented students no benefits regarding in-state tuition.

Ultimately, providing undocumented students in-state tuition is extremely costly. It is not fair for the legal residents of California and prospective out-of-state students to suffer for the benefit and well-being of undocumented students.