Lawmakers approve financial aid to illegal immigrants

[jfox]

It is not uncommon for border states to have some kind of assistance for foreign students. Most universities and colleges also have the same allowances for international students. Undocumented citizens are not eligible for federal money but they are eligible for state aid. At public Texas universities the state aid awarded is revenue from tuition and fees. Portions are set aside for citizens and non-citizens according to the applicant pool and date of application. Award amounts are often not enough to cover the cost of tuition and fees, so it is hardly a free ride. Undocumented citizens are given a deadline to either follow the steps to become legal citizens or lose their aid.

US parents often think that they are entitled to financial aid and award amounts should cover 100% of students costs. A secondary education is not free. Aid is intended to be a supplement to funds the parent has set aside for the student. From personal experience it is difficult to consel a parent who has a 6 figure salary trying to explain why the student is only eligible for loans and not grant money. Once I mention loans it is about that time the parent tells me they only have so much money to maintain their luxury houses, vehicles and who should pay for their kids education. Ggrrrrrr

[wilfred]

Originally Posted by jfox

It is not uncommon for border states to have some kind of assistance for foreign students. Most universities and colleges also have the same allowances for international students. Undocumented citizens are not eligible for federal money but they are eligible for state aid. At public Texas universities the state aid awarded is revenue from tuition and fees. Portions are set aside for citizens and non-citizens according to the applicant pool and date of application. Award amounts are often not enough to cover the cost of tuition and fees, so it is hardly a free ride. Undocumented citizens are given a deadline to either follow the steps to become legal citizens or lose their aid.

US parents often think that they are entitled to financial aid and award amounts should cover 100% of students costs. A secondary education is not free. Aid is intended to be a supplement to funds the parent has set aside for the student. From personal experience it is difficult to consel a parent who has a 6 figure salary trying to explain why the student is only eligible for loans and not grant money. Once I mention loans it is about that time the parent tells me they only have so much money to maintain their luxury houses, vehicles and who should pay for their kids education. Ggrrrrrr

Unless things have changed, there was no assistance for international students at all. I was considered as an international student (because I was a legal immigrant but wasn't a US citizen at the time) and while attending a community college for my general education, my tuition was around $200~$300 per unit. Meanwhile, US citizens only have to pay $5 or $10 per unit. I have no problem with that because I wasn't a US citizen and neither my parents or myself were paying any taxes. So it makes perfect sense we have to pay more to get an education here. As a matter of fact, I remember we had to provide bank statement showing the ability to pay the tuition and expenses during my stay because international students are not allowed to work in this country.

Now to offer financial aid to the illegals is complete BS!

[Wisha Haddan H3]

Originally Posted by wilfred

Unless things have changed, there was no assistance for international students at all. I was considered as an international student (because I was a legal immigrant but wasn't a US citizen at the time) and while attending a community college for my general education, my tuition was around $200~$300 per unit. Meanwhile, US citizens only have to pay $5 or $10 per unit. I have no problem with that because I wasn't a US citizen and neither my parents or myself were paying any taxes. So it makes perfect sense we have to pay more to get an education here. As a matter of fact, I remember we had to provide bank statement showing the ability to pay the tuition and expenses during my stay because international students are not allowed to work in this country.

Now to offer financial aid to the illegals is complete BS!

My ex-wife is Belgian, and that's exactly what we had to do to put her through college in Colorado. As a legal immigrant married to a US citizen, she was NOT eligible for in-state tuition or financial aid until her permanent residency was approved (which in our case took 4 years).

It's getting harder and harder to immigrate legally, so why are we helping illegals sneak across the border and paying them to go to college? If I tried that in any other country, they'd send me packing. It's going from the land of the free to the land of the free rent

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by Wisha Haddan H3

It's getting harder and harder to immigrate legally, so why are we helping illegals sneak across the border and paying them to go to college? If I tried that in any other country, they'd send me packing. It's going from the land of the free to the land of the free rent

Try to sneak across the Mexican border, and get caught. You are beaten and sent back, or worse, you are raped, beaten and sent back. In addition, even if you legally move to Mexico and obtain Mexican Citizenship (Why anyone would?), they retain the right to pull your citizenship at any time and deport you back to where you came from prior to moving to Mexico.

[marin8703]

maybe its a trap, they'll round them up at the colleges and deport them.

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by jfox

It is not uncommon for border states to have some kind of assistance for foreign students. Most universities and colleges also have the same allowances for international students. Undocumented citizens are not eligible for federal money but they are eligible for state aid. At public Texas universities the state aid awarded is revenue from tuition and fees. Portions are set aside for citizens and non-citizens according to the applicant pool and date of application. Award amounts are often not enough to cover the cost of tuition and fees, so it is hardly a free ride. Undocumented citizens are given a deadline to either follow the steps to become legal citizens or lose their aid.

US parents often think that they are entitled to financial aid and award amounts should cover 100% of students costs. A secondary education is not free. Aid is intended to be a supplement to funds the parent has set aside for the student. From personal experience it is difficult to consel a parent who has a 6 figure salary trying to explain why the student is only eligible for loans and not grant money. Once I mention loans it is about that time the parent tells me they only have so much money to maintain their luxury houses, vehicles and who should pay for their kids education. Ggrrrrrr

Give me a break. No education in this country is free if you work and pay taxes. I will agree, there are some who do not work but they still probably pay some type of property tax; either via a house they own, apartment rental fees, etc., or sales tax on purchases. However, the taxes I have paid over the years to the school systems I have lived in, means there is no free ride if you work. I have no problem with this; I have no problem with it now, even though my kids are all done with their primary education.

I have helped put two kids through universities and working on the last one through MI State U. I am not asking for any handouts from the Government, never have, never will. My kids have no college loans, I have no college loans for putting them through. I have no problems with underprivileged children obtaining grants for college AS LONG AS THEY ARE CHILDREN OF TAXPAYING US CITIZENS.

Key WORDS are "taxpaying," and "US Citizens." Some of the illegals pay taxes, yes, but they are in this country ILLEGALLY, and I fail to understand why it is so hard for people in this country to understand what ILLEGAL means.

Taxpayers of this country should not be responsible for educating illegal or even legal aliens who come to this country to obtain an education, unless they become US citizens and plan on staying here.

Take the money that they are giving to the Illegals and possibly a few underprivileged kids of US Citizens can obtain more grant money for their college. Or, just take that money and reduce tuition overall for everyone. But there is no legal or moral reason for US taxpayers to support non-US citizens in their quest for a college degree. (It sure appears there is a political reason. )