Fair warning: this is a rant about a somewhat controversial subject. Today in the Wilmington newspaper there was an article about a bill that's been proposed in the state legislature that would allow illegal immigrants -- excuse me..."undocumented students" -- to pay in-state tuition rather then out-of-state if they are North Carolina residents. Opponents pointed out that this would just increase the odds of actual American citizens being pushed out of spots at colleges and universitieis. Supporters said the higher tuition just hurts these students and that making education easier will benefit everybody. Oh, and we're also supposed to be offended because these same illegal residents can't get federal aid like grants and student loans.
Am I the only one who is dumbfounded by all of this? I am all for immigration. I am all for individuals and families moving to a country where they can find better opportunities for themselves and their families. I want these immigrants to have equal opportunties as American-born citizens, with no fear of discrimination. I have the deepest respect for people brave enough to uproot their families and enter a new culture with a new language and customs. It's really awesome. But why can't people do it legally????? Hundreds of thousands of people have immigrated legally and we as a country are spitting in their face by allowing -- no, by making it easy -- for people to live, work and study illegally. And we're not only mocking them, but ourselves and our own laws by essentially rewarding people for breaking the law. This is insane! How about next time someone goes out and steels a car, we just let him or her keep that car, as long as they really need it. After all, it's not fair that they should be penalized just because they don't have a car like everybody else, right?
Utter. Madness. I mean, if we aren't going to enforce our own laws, then let's get rid of it. by all means, open the borders and let it flow. But if not, then let's actually enforce the law. Let's stop doling out health care and education to people who aren't paying taxes. Let's help them go about things the right way, instead of positively reinforcing -- rewarding -- illegal behvior.
okay. rant over.
5 comments:
We have lots of tough law issues concerning "immigrants" without legal documentation here in Arizona. It's a real sensitive issue and the sides have really polarized over the past few months. all that to say, you aren't alone in your frustrations.
I would totally kick Hillary's butt. :)
I totally agree with you. I know there are a lot of flaws in the argument that American citizens are missing out because tax dollars are going toward services for illegal immigrants, but the basic reasoning behind the argument is valid. What's the point of having a law if you're going to either not enforce it or make wholesale exceptions to it. It's tough to draw a line because a lot of these people just want to make their lives better and are trying to find a way to contribute, but at the same time it is true that universities are overcrowded and expensive and its only exacerbating the problem to include illegal immigrants in the equation for discounts. I mean, it does seem crazy to agree to give an illegal resident from Mexico instate tuition to the University of Texas while demanding that a U.S. resident from Oklahoma pay full price. Actually, that's a bad example cause Olkahoma is dumb and Mexicans are cooler than Okies, but you get the point.
Just to be sure, the North Carolina program doesn't give them any help getting into the colleges, right? They have to get in on their own merits, they just get to pay less... Because if that's the case, then this particular issue isn't costing Americans spots at all... How are "undocumented students" getting into colleges anyway? I totally had to prove I was a citizen or could legally attend school in the US when I applied to college... Wow, this is a long comment, sorry.
And why did I have to spell Oklahoma wrong when writing about how dumb they are??
If they're smart people, maybe we can keep them and use them for our own industries and capitalize on the scientific discoveries they make! on the other hand, they might just go back to where they came from and share their knowledge there. Or to france. *shudder*...france.
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