Do you agree with GOP's nativist immigration policies

[HAL 9000 96]

And I don't know if it's still in effect or if it was just the specific college I attended in California, but children of illegal immigrants were given free tuition.

Which college? Can you point me to something on this?

It was over 10 years ago but it was the Solano Community College in Fairfield, CA. Like I said, they might not even do that anymore. I looked into it a bit and it seems right now, California is one of several states that give illegal immigrants automatic 'resident' status when determining their college tuition rates. I found this article on a lawsuit against the practice: http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/trial-pro...10552221-1.html

US residents from out of state still must pay the out of state fee but not illegal immigrants.

This thread also illustrates an attempt in the works to try and allow illegal immigrants access to grants and fee waivers in California:

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/10/13..._2310_12_07.txt

"Approved by the Legislature last month, the bill applies to financially needy illegal immigrant students. It would make them eligible for state grants or community college fee waivers if they graduate from California high schools after attending for at least three years."

So it may be that the option for a fee waiver based on immigration status has been changed or perhaps even I was mistaken in my memory. Either way, I still feel they're getting more benefits than are necessary.

Probably true, given the nature of their existence within the borders of the US. However, its not an immigration topic, rather an economical one. The premise is in having colleges and universities provide higher-caliber graduates (independent of immigration status) into the workforce and as a result, society.

[symbiosis 0]

And I don't know if it's still in effect or if it was just the specific college I attended in California, but children of illegal immigrants were given free tuition.

Which college? Can you point me to something on this?

It was over 10 years ago but it was the Solano Community College in Fairfield, CA. Like I said, they might not even do that anymore. I looked into it a bit and it seems right now, California is one of several states that give illegal immigrants automatic 'resident' status when determining their college tuition rates. I found this article on a lawsuit against the practice: http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/trial-pro...10552221-1.html

US residents from out of state still must pay the out of state fee but not illegal immigrants.

This thread also illustrates an attempt in the works to try and allow illegal immigrants access to grants and fee waivers in California:

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/10/13..._2310_12_07.txt

"Approved by the Legislature last month, the bill applies to financially needy illegal immigrant students. It would make them eligible for state grants or community college fee waivers if they graduate from California high schools after attending for at least three years."

So it may be that the option for a fee waiver based on immigration status has been changed or perhaps even I was mistaken in my memory. Either way, I still feel they're getting more benefits than are necessary.

I suspect you were mistaken, as this would be highly irregular and would have attracted national attention, I think.

[MichelleN 0]

Yes, I may have been mistaken but like I said, I still don't believe they should be rewarded for coming into the country illegally.

[HAL 9000 96]

Yes, I may have been mistaken but like I said, I still don't believe they should be rewarded for coming into the country illegally.

On that particular topic I guess it depends on where you define what a benefit is and what the intended outcome from getting some kind of education lies with respect to society. There usually is a larger picture out there.

[MichelleN 0]

Yes, I may have been mistaken but like I said, I still don't believe they should be rewarded for coming into the country illegally.

On that particular topic I guess it depends on where you define what a benefit is and what the intended outcome from getting some kind of education lies with respect to society. There usually is a larger picture out there.

I understand what you're saying with the larger picture, however what's to discourage the vast influx of new illegals if they know they can get free health care, next to free (and sometimes free) education for themselves and their children, and all sorts of government assistance? Right now the positive aspects of coming here illegal greatly outnumber the negative ones.

[GaryC 7]

I am also wondering something symbiosis. Since you are obviously a liberal and everyone knows liberals are open border types, then why are you bothering with a visa for your SO? I mean, shouldn't you just take him/her to Mexico and walk him/her across?

/sarcasm

[chri'stina 190]

I'm curious, as this forum seems to have a lot of ultra-conservatives. Considering that we're all her because we have a significant other from abroad, I find the contradiction slightly baffling.

a lot of ultra conservatives? you must be new here. wait until the next anti-illegal thread and you'll see how small a number there are.

definitions of "a lot" as per symbiosis:

• conservatives; 1
• liberals; 10,000,000 minimum

Yeah that statement threw me, IMO there are a lot of left wing liberals around Off Topic. Not many conservatives. But I guess whatever conservatives there are, they are "obsessed" with their issues? The other side isn't, no not at all.

[HAL 9000 96]

Yes, I may have been mistaken but like I said, I still don't believe they should be rewarded for coming into the country illegally.

On that particular topic I guess it depends on where you define what a benefit is and what the intended outcome from getting some kind of education lies with respect to society. There usually is a larger picture out there.

I understand what you're saying with the larger picture, however what's to discourage the vast influx of new illegals if they know they can get free health care, next to free (and sometimes free) education for themselves and their children, and all sorts of government assistance? Right now the positive aspects of coming here illegal greatly outnumber the negative ones.

Yeah, I know. I think the larger picture states not just the obvious, symptomatic observations we ourselves can make here in the US... and the see-saw game our politicians and interest groups play around the nation. What we fail to take into account most of the time is that the entire game is many a times borne out of necessity at home which creates a lack- and be it partly due to our contribution and be it not, is an environment that creates a much stronger driving force to force migrate.

I'm curious, as this forum seems to have a lot of ultra-conservatives. Considering that we're all her because we have a significant other from abroad, I find the contradiction slightly baffling.

a lot of ultra conservatives? you must be new here. wait until the next anti-illegal thread and you'll see how small a number there are.

definitions of "a lot" as per symbiosis:

• conservatives; 1
• liberals; 10,000,000 minimum

Yeah that statement threw me, IMO there are a lot of left wing liberals around Off Topic. Not many conservatives. But I guess whatever conservatives there are, they are "obsessed" with their issues? The other side isn't, no not at all.

It can be easily measured by a topics search.

[symbiosis 0]

I am also wondering something symbiosis. Since you are obviously a liberal and everyone knows liberals are open border types, then why are you bothering with a visa for your SO? I mean, shouldn't you just take him/her to Mexico and walk him/her across?

/sarcasm

Not sarcasm, idiocy

[symbiosis 0]

Yes, I may have been mistaken but like I said, I still don't believe they should be rewarded for coming into the country illegally.

On that particular topic I guess it depends on where you define what a benefit is and what the intended outcome from getting some kind of education lies with respect to society. There usually is a larger picture out there.

I understand what you're saying with the larger picture, however what's to discourage the vast influx of new illegals if they know they can get free health care, next to free (and sometimes free) education for themselves and their children, and all sorts of government assistance? Right now the positive aspects of coming here illegal greatly outnumber the negative ones.

The evidence doesn't support this. The vast majority come to work so they can repatriate funds to their families in poor countries. Case in point, Portsville, Iowa. That's why a sensible guest worker program is the logical solution.

Don't forget that these "illegal" workers contribute billions each year to the social security system, for which they will never receive benefits:

http://www.businessweek.com/investor/conte...0407_072803.htm

[symbiosis 0]

"A stunning two-thirds of illegal immigrants pay Medicare, Social Security and personal income taxes."

http://www.reason.org/commentaries/dalmia_20060501.shtml

[GaryC 7]

I am also wondering something symbiosis. Since you are obviously a liberal and everyone knows liberals are open border types, then why are you bothering with a visa for your SO? I mean, shouldn't you just take him/her to Mexico and walk him/her across?

/sarcasm

Not sarcasm, idiocy

If your referring to your OP then I tend to agree. It was idiocy.

[peejay 327]

Probably true, given the nature of their existence within the borders of the US. However, its not an immigration topic, rather an economical one. The premise is in having colleges and universities provide higher-caliber graduates (independent of immigration status) into the workforce and as a result, society.

It is an (illegal) immigration issue. ####### legislation like the DREAM Act is bad public policy. First off, it gives benefits to illegal aliens that are denied to US citizens (i.e.: lower in-state tuition rates to foreigners illegally in our country while denying those same rates to US citizens). Also, training illegal aliens to work illegally in the US workforce is rather moronic. It's on par with giving driving privileges to people that are in our country illegally. Whether they are present here and now in the USA is irrelevant. They are arrestable, detainable, and deportable under long standing US laws. They have absolutely no entitlement to be rewarded for breaking numerous laws of our country.

It disgusts me to no end that politicians whether Republican, Democrat, or whatever would pander to this illegal community and its cheerleaders for cheap votes or political gain when the negative effects of open borders is more than obvious.

Rewarding illegal aliens is a recipe for more and more of the same. Don't believe me? Just look at what 7 illegal alien amnesties have wraught since the first in 1986.

[Fedup 0]

I am also wondering something symbiosis. Since you are obviously a liberal and everyone knows liberals are open border types, then why are you bothering with a visa for your SO? I mean, shouldn't you just take him/her to Mexico and walk him/her across?

/sarcasm

Not sarcasm, idiocy

Worse. "and everyone knows".

[HAL 9000 96]

Probably true, given the nature of their existence within the borders of the US. However, its not an immigration topic, rather an economical one. The premise is in having colleges and universities provide higher-caliber graduates (independent of immigration status) into the workforce and as a result, society.

It is an (illegal) immigration issue. ####### legislation like the DREAM Act is bad public policy. First off, it gives benefits to illegal aliens that are denied to US citizens (i.e.: lower in-state tuition rates to foreigners illegally in our country while denying those same rates to US citizens). Also, training illegal aliens to work illegally in the US workforce is rather moronic. It's on par with giving driving privileges to people that are in our country illegally. Whether they are present here and now in the USA is irrelevant. They are arrestable, detainable, and deportable under long standing US laws. They have absolutely no entitlement to be rewarded for breaking numerous laws of our country.

It disgusts me to no end that politicians whether Republican, Democrat, or whatever would pander to this illegal community and its cheerleaders for cheap votes or political gain when the negative effects of open borders is more than obvious.

Rewarding illegal aliens is a recipe for more and more of the same. Don't believe me? Just look at what 7 illegal alien amnesties have wraught since the first in 1986.

In-state tuition for in-state residents. Compared to in-state tuition for [illegal] residents of that state. That is not that hard to swallow, besides the illegal part. The argument is about economics, not immigrant status.

The ones being denied an in-state tuition rate are out-of-state attendees to these colleges and universities. At which point they can claim residency after meeting that state's residency requirements (usually 30 days to 6 months, depending by state). If an illegal alien that was accepted to Community College X, can show residency in that state, then its a matter of residency- not immigrant status.

Wanting to pass off another topic as this one or another knee-jerk is your right, I suppose.