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This is the same controversial and divisive issue that Governor Romney vetoed last year, yet the Massachusetts legislature has brought the proposal back with more sponsors and even more determination to get it passed. Advocates like MIRA, the Massachusetts Coalition for Refugee Advocacy Coalition, and lobbyist Charles Glick say they have trained “students” as “lobbyists” to help them get the bill passed as they patrol the State House to garner support form legislators on House Bill H.1230 and Senate Bill S.764. There are currently 12,500 out-of-state students attending Massachusetts’ public colleges each year. With an average differential between the in-state and out-of-state rate being approximately $7,500, the potential liability to the taxpayers of Massachusetts is more than $90 million. In the Merrimack Valley, all three State Representatives from Lowell: Thomas Golden; David Nangle, and Kevin Murphy have come out against in-state tuition for illegal aliens. Lawrence, however, is a different story. With a population of 70% Hispan-ics in the city and a large number of illegal aliens, legislators representing Lawrence seem to either support the measure or are reluctant to take a public stand. State
Senator Susan Tucker (D) Andover, who represents Lawrence
said she supports giving in-state tuition to
illegals. "They would also be required to sign an official affidavit demonstrating that they will continue the legal process to become an American citizen," she added. Tucker said that the issue has support from Republicans and Democrats across the country - stating that several Republican governors, including Texas, New York and Utah, have signed similar measures into law. "If the issue comes before the State Senate, I’d be inclined to follow their lead and support it,” Tucker concluded. State Representative Barry R. Finegold (D) Andover, who represents a section of Lawrence, supported the measure last year but could not be reached for comment. Aides for North Andover Representative David M. Torrisi, (D) who also represents a portion of Lawrence said they didn't even know his position on the issue. Repre-sentative Barbara L'Italien (D), Andover also could not be reached for comment. Lawrence State Representative "Willie" Lantigua, (a strong advocate for illegal immigration), originally said he favored the bill but filed an amendment to require illegals who get the tuition break to stay in Massachusetts and work here for three years after they graduate. Many lawmakers opposed the Lantigua amendment in committee because it doesn't address the fact that illegal aliens, with or without a college degree, still cannot work legally in the United States. Lantigua's aide now says he opposes the House bill after his amendment was rejected. Methuen State Representative Arthur Broadhurst (D), says he adamantly opposes the bill and said it is unfair to people who are here legally. "I will not vote for any tuition break for illegal aliens" Broadhurst told the Valley Patriot. "First of all, you have legal citizens of the United States who live in New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island and they have to pay the out-of-state costs. Why should someone who is not in the United States legally get tuition benefits over people who are legal citizens?" The principal argument made by organizations which favor illegal immigration is that requiring out of state tuition costs for illegal aliens will deny children their “dream” of a college education and a chance to advance themselves as productive members of society. Broadhurst rebuffed that argument saying, "We are not denying college education to anybody. They can go to any Massachusetts State College they want, they just have to pay the out of state tuition rate." Haverhill Representatives Brian S. Dempsey (D) and Harriett L. Stanley (D) are both publicly opposed to the measure as is Methuen State Senator Steve Baddour. Throughout the nation, there is an increasing demand to stop the influx of illegal aliens into this country and to cut back on ways that illegals are assimilating themselves into the fabric of our nation, draining the country of valuable resources. Texas was the first state to pass an in-state tuition bill for illegal aliens; those students are now graduating and cannot legally get jobs (“Illegal Immigrants’ New Lament: Have Degree, No Job,” Wall Street Journal, April 26, 2005). Utah, one of the eight states that has passed a law providing in-state tuition to illegal aliens is now having second thoughts about the measure as their Edu-cation Interim Committee recently voted 10-3 to rescind the Utah tuition breaks. The Utah legislators are concerned over a potential $32 million financial shortfall caused by a federal law which requires all states that give in-state tuition to illegal aliens to also grant the same breaks to "all citizens and legal immigrants." This means all out-of state students attending Utah public colleges would be eligible for the lower in-state rate, costing the taxpayers of Utah $32 million. Utah legislators are concerned about discriminating “against U.S. citizens and lawfully admitted foreign students” (“Waiver for illegals on shaky ground,” The Salt Lake Tribune, June 16, 2005). Soon after the state of Kansas passed a similar law, a group of U.S. citizens, with the help of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), filed suit in federal District Court to either have the Kansas law vacated or give the lower in-state tuition rate to all out-of-state students attending Kansas public colleges. Under the current Massachusetts bill, a student who is in this country illegally can qualify for the in-state tuition break by promising to file an application for citizenship or permanent residency “at the earliest opportunity.” But nobody at the state house can say for sure what kind of time frame constitutes “at the earliest opportunity,” or what kind of penalty (if any) will apply if a student fails to comply. According to a Department of Homeland Security website, only one-third of those applying for citizenship in the United States will end up with legal status.
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The Massachusetts legislature
is currently considering whether or not to provide
in-state tuition to illegal aliens.
Massachusetts for at least
three years, and who graduated from a state high school
after successfully passing the MCAS exams to be eligible
to receive in-state tuition rates at public colleges and
universities - the same treatment and opportunity as any
other Massachusetts high school graduate."