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Fair shake on tuition

Bill would help kids avoid putting parents in jeopardy

The Rocky

Published January 22, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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State Sen. Paula Sandoval, D-Denver, wants to end some of the uncertainty that may surround young adults in Colorado who are U.S. citizens and qualify for in-state tuition - but whose parents are in the country illegally.

Senate Bill 79 would help remedy one of the unintended consequences of a 2006 law that was meant to tackle illegal immigration. It would give students the legal standing to establish residency without exposing their parents to added scrutiny. Students could then receive the significant financial benefit of in-state tuition without risking getting their own parents into trouble with immigration authorities.

The bill is a natural sequel to last year's legal opinion by Colorado Attorney General John Suthers in which he concluded that House Bill 1023, which denies some public benefits to adults who cannot prove their lawful immigration status, does not prevent U.S. citizens who are Colorado residents from getting in-state college tuition if their parents are illegal immigrants.

"[T]he student, rather than the parents . . . is the legal beneficiary of in-state tuition status," the AG concluded, and we agree.

Problem is, as it now stands, the law may discourage or even prevent these students from applying for in-state status even though they qualify. Why? To demonstrate a dependent student's residency under current law, the parents have to prove they have established a "domicile" in Colorado and lived in the state for at least 12 months. While Suthers' opinion noted that "an undocumented alien can establish domicile in Colorado," parents here illegally obviously may not want to notify state authorities of their whereabouts if doing so might also draw the attention of law enforcement.

Enter SB 79. It would extend in-state tuition benefits to U.S. citizens who have graduated from a public or private high school in Colorado and attended school in the state for at least the final three years before they enroll in college.

Sandoval told us she came up with the three-year figure to minimize the potential that students might try to game the system by moving here before their senior year just to establish residency.

As she noted, the bill would also help children who are homeless or living with extended family members who do not have legal guardian status. Under current law, she said, it can be cumbersome and difficult for these young adults to prove they're state residents even though they may have lived in Colorado most of their lives.

Whatever one thinks of illegal immigration - and most Americans want it dramatically slowed - children should not be put in a position where they have to betray their parents to authorities in order to go to college. Students from such families have often overcome significant barriers just to graduate from high school. SB 79 would remove needless legal impediments that could prevent these young adults from reaching their full academic and professional potential. It deserves to become law.

Comments

  • January 22, 2008

    5:07 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Armie writes:

    Sandoval probably means well but sends the wrong message. She has a dog in the hunt anyway.
    Telling children that it is O.K. for their parents to break the law for any reason is just wrong.
    The children should encourage their parents to acquire citizenship instead of breaking the law.
    People in Mexico aren't very good at the rule of law and maybe that is why that beautiful country is in chaos most of the time. Let’s not encourage it here.

  • January 22, 2008

    6:39 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    pamelaw writes:

    Here we go again, lets protect the anchor babies and give them full benefits, I mean what the heck, the parents break laws that if the American Citizens and/or Legal Immigrants did, we would be serving time. Now this state wants to REWARD every illegal aliens child with free tution and/or in-state tution. What a country.......What a crock of you know what. This state is becoming a sanctuary state and I resent the fact that this government should be allowed to protect the illegal lawbreakers and their anchor babies first before their own LEGAL residents of this state.

  • January 22, 2008

    6:48 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mike_In_Hartsel writes:

    The Supreme Court needs to rule on anchor babies. Until then they are not citizens. This is another liberal scheme to garner votes. More pandering from the left.

  • January 22, 2008

    6:54 a.m.

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    vudumom writes:

    I agree with Armie. Allowing children and they, are not really children they are impressionable teenagers,to see that it's okay to break the law and get around it is not the way to teach people who want to go to college.What they can do is tell their parents who are here illegally to go back to their countries and apply there.The parents are probably not using real i.d.'s,real social security,paying real taxes,insurance and the list goes on.

    I would propose before the student gets in-state tuition for social workers go interview the parents,with the stipulation that everything said is private. If the parents can prove they are paying taxes,have i'd's with their actual names,have a real social security card that is verifiable,have a real driver's license,has car insurance and can prove they have been in this state for 5 years,paying state and federal taxes,and the person who wants to go to college has a steady "B" average and a good attendence record,then they should be considered for in-state tuition.

    The main thing is the student have a "B" average for 3 years and good attendeance. With letters of reccomendation from his/her teachers.Our colleges have enough financial problems.They should not be squandering money on applicants that are not committed to getting an education.No scholorships should be given either they are already getting a break by paying in-state tuition,which is alot less that out of state tuition.

    There are alot of legal families struggling to send their children to college. I'm not saying don't totally ban in-state tuition for children of illegals. I'm just saying don't hand it to them on a silver platter. If they want it bad enough then let them jump through hoops like alot of legal families do to get their kids in college.

  • January 22, 2008

    6:57 a.m.

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    BikerChick writes:

    This is a great idea.

    While the USA economy swirls down the toilet, and 40 million illegal aliens are fully-employed (ILLEGALLY) in the USA, earning $1,732 BIL in 2007 (according to Paul Harvey), let's give their kids a break - and protect the unlawful parents in that process.

    While the USA taxpayer-citizens pay $400 BIL per year (net) for required "fringe-benefits" (emergency medical, K-12 education, etc) PLUS $600 BIL per year (net) for OPTIONAL "fringe-benefits" to UNLAWFULLY benefit illegal aliens and their kids, lets give the children of the illegal aliens a break on their college education costs -- and save-harmless the unlawful parents.

    There are more than a billion folks out there in third-word nations that want to come to the USA and enjoy the bennies that folks like Ms. Sandoval want to give them. Let's encourage them.

    What the heck - Lets save a small amount of money and eliminate the Border Patrol, so we will have more money to give to the "poor, pitiful immigrants." It really doesn't matter that we host 750,000 illegal alien absconders PLUS 2,100,000 criminal illegal aliens with outstanding warrants - because we cannot afford to increase the size of the DHS-ICE enforcement team.

    So what if we have rampant unemployment of citizen-taxpayers while illegal aliens displace them in the marketplace. So what if we have children of taxpayer-citizens who deserve the college education, but we will give the money to the kids of illegals.

    Multiculturalism-at-any-cost is the rallying cry of the "progressive" political party now in-charge in the Colorado Capital. Ms. Sandoval is on that team.

  • January 22, 2008

    8:18 a.m.

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    T1anda writes:

    Sandoval is just pandering to her own race...exactly like Ken and John Salazar!!
    NOW, who are the racists Sandoval?? Ritter and Poopenlicker are sell outs as well as the rest of the pro-illegal prostitutes that have been elected in this state!!

    Pamelaw... what do you mean "we are becoming a sanctuary city"

    We definately ARE a sanctuary city!!!!

    Enforecement through attrition!!!!

  • January 22, 2008

    8:53 a.m.

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    Randy writes:

    When I first was assigned by the military to a Colorado base, I was not eligible for in-state tuition for two years. There are many military dependents that are in Colorado and are not eligible for in-state-tuition because their parents have retained their home state as residency. Since illegal aliens still claim their home country by not attempting to get residency, why should they be different? There are procedures that allow minors to be liberated under the law. If they can then show residency, then they should be eligible under current laws. Why are we pandering to illegals?

  • January 22, 2008

    10:31 a.m.

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    Mtnsjohn writes:

    Hummmm....fearful of registering for college because dad and mom have committed felonies and through the information now required, it might led to their arrest, being charged and held responsible for their crime. Doesn't sound like this fear is such a bad thing to me.

    Maybe the list of application questions could be expanded, asking where the applicant's parents are working, under what names are they working and whose social security numbers have they "borrowed."

    To pass this law is to help protect one class of felons and remove a useful law enforcement tool. I really doubt that ICE has the time to use school records to track possible illegals. ....and the State of Colorado just doesn't care under this governor and legislature.

  • January 22, 2008

    12:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    xircon writes:

    I not sure what the deal is. When my daughter entered college at CSU 3 years ago, I did not have to prove that I was a US citizen for her to get in state tuition. I think a social security number, drivers license and fulfilling the residency requierment was all that was required.

  • January 22, 2008

    2:47 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    rickg19611 writes:

    Funny how all the pro-illegal alien posters refuse to cough up their own money to pay for the added costs of their policies. Let them pay for it, instead of forcing taxpayers to foot the bill for the pro-illegal alien crowd's idiot beliefs.

  • January 23, 2008

    6:54 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    STOPUSAGiveaway writes:

    MEANWHILE US TROOPS our sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, grandmothers and grandfathers are being sacrificed on foreign soil so the illustrius Oath of Office Violator steps over the families of the dead and generations of US working-taxpayers to put ILLEGALS on the dole.
    GET OUT non rep--go run in Mexico
    The PROPAGANDA-sob stories don't cut it: we are not slaves to ILLEGALS especially whores crossing the USA border whom are being sent by the gov of Mexico especially. That nation alone has increased our population by 2/3'rds!
    We owe you nothing..we owe ILLEGALS nothing.
    If they were not breeding constantly they could pay for their own.
    Look at DENVER--it has become a cess pool for ILLEGALS, illegitimates ILLITERATES! GANGS r us dba the USA!
    Just follow the diaper trail.
    No doubt the elected official got into office like Federico Pena who had over 33,000 LLEGALS vote for him against a real American.
    I like to ask the rep what she think over 70% ILLEGITIMACY contributes to any nation?
    And how did you come to the USA so-call rep who took an Oath of Ofice to uphold the Colorado and US CONSTITUTION?
    And are you hiding your THE RACE CARD=LA RAZA?
    What could be more hateful and evil than anyone who dares to call themselves "THE RACE?"""
    When you current excuse doesn't work: next you will say we were the cause of the putas getting pregnant because they were so desperate.
    OUR DEAD TROOPS would have enjoyed the luxury of attending COLLEGE that their parents, grandparents, great grandparents and on and on E A R N E D and passed on and i was not to whores who invaded intentionally to birth for auto-welfare citizenship against the USA CONSTITUTION and against the TEN COMMANDMENTS: Thou Salt Not Steal!
    REAL MICHIGANS LAW--you are behind the times: we are a nation and a nation of laws not a dual nothing no standand people
    DoUnto Others....

  • January 23, 2008

    7:05 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    STOPUSAGiveaway writes:

    PS The illustrious THE RACE CARD carrying contra One Nation Under GOD also contributed to the murder of Officer Young! Tell that to his children they are old enough to realize their dad will never be around because this nation has had over 40 years of being invaded so we can become the worlds greatest debtor nation and dumping groups for the overpopulated nations to our own demise supported by illegal aliens whore-elected officials! Do Unto Others ....One Nation Under GOD

  • January 23, 2008

    2:33 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Sean writes:

    My goodness, the xenophobia on display here defies all logic and com men sense. Firstly, you are willing to punish the children for the sins of the parents. Secondly, you are willing to forgo the economic gains this state and nation would have by having more college graduates who earn more, spend more and pay more in taxes simply because of the status of the parents of these US CITIZENS.
    So I guess those opposed to the in-state tuition charge would rather have gangs of uneducated thugs than a larger pool of educated workers. Sad, pathetic and just plain stupid.

  • January 23, 2008

    3:20 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    vudumom writes:

    I will support in-state tuition for kids of illegals if ,our American citizen,non-border babies born on American soil by illegals ,children get free tuition in any college of their choice in Colorado.
    If illegals children get in-state we should be able to get free tuition for our children.

  • January 24, 2008

    10:57 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    T1anda writes:

    Not xenophobia, just plain common sense!! Most American's are mad as hell, sick and tired of the illegals, and the horrendous problems such as job snatching, anchor babies, ID theft, every concievable crime they have, and will commit,not to mention the diseases,such as antibiotic resistant TB, Hepatitus A-B-C.... that comes into this country when they arrogantly sneak here and break our laws!!

    Mexico is a VERY dishonorable country and so are her citizens!!!

    Attrition through enforcement!!!