Supporters of the measure claim that more students will be given access to higher education as well as encourage illegal undocumented residents to legalize their status. Critics claim the law will help make Rhode Island a destination for more undocumented illegal residents and that according to State Law, all students of legal resident status in the United States must first be offered in-state tuition before it is given to undocumented residents.
The Board of Governors for High Education is set to extend in-state tuition to undocumented students in Rhode Island. According to Governor Chafee’s office, the law would make in-state tuition available to all undocumented students who have attended a Rhode Island high school for at least three years. They need to have graduated from that high school in order to be eligible for the in-state college tuition. In addition, students wishing to take advantage of the new law will need to sign an affidavit promising to seek legal status.
Supporters of the measure claim that more students will be given access to higher education as well as encourage illegal undocumented residents to legalize their status. Critics claim the law will help make Rhode Island a destination for more undocumented illegal residents and that according to State Law, all students of legal resident status in the United States must first be offered in-state tuition before it is given to undocumented residents.
Lexi C.
9/26/2011 05:52:40 am
I think that this is a good thing but a bad thing at the same time. Good because this will help many people get a higher education which is important for getting jobs. Bad because Rhode Island is a small state with a bad economy more people living here most likely will not help that.
Jin Qing Zhang
9/26/2011 06:05:29 am
Hope that it turns out alright.
dana crawford
9/26/2011 08:19:12 am
I think that it is good that the people that came overhear illegally are able to have a collage education. Although I agree with Lexi, our economy will not be helped if there are more people in the state. Although they have to promise to become citizens so that our taxes will not have to support them anymore.
Daniel Colabella
9/26/2011 09:27:11 am
Why are we extending these rights to illegal immagriants. This bill will only encourage more illegal immagriants to come to Rhode Island. This could really have a bad effect on tution prices. The more the state cuts on in state tution the more the rates will go up. This is not the way that the government should try to help the economy. I find it hard to believe that Governor Chafee was a republican at one point in his political career.
Carrie Cavanagh
9/26/2011 11:39:37 am
I'm not exactly sure about how i feel about illegal immigrants having a Rhode Island "discount" on state colleges. Shouldn't out of state students have the same "discount" as Rhode Island students, they actually belong to the country. Then again, if the "illegals" get a good education for a better price more would want to become citizens.
Cara Beneduce
9/27/2011 07:31:24 am
I do not agree with illegal immigrants have discount in RI. This is basically telling all of this immigrants to come to RI because they will not have to pay as much money, I don't think Rhode Islanders will all agree with that.
Jenna Mixner
9/27/2011 10:13:19 am
There's a reason they're illegal. I don't understand why no one is putting a stop to this. Although, it may sound better for Rhode Island's economy, the immigrants shouldn't be able to attend college in our country if they don't even belong in it.
Shaelynn Tatangelo
9/27/2011 10:36:28 am
Everyone deserves to have and education, definitely, and i think R.I is doing this to be like ha, we have educated people who can work and make more money for us. Seriously, if you think about it, that's probably one of the biggest reasons for this, if not the only reason. I think they're looking at it as almost a bribe, education to work and make money for the state, I'm not saying it's right, but that's how it goes, education for money. Personally, I think everyone should pay the same amount, from R.I. or not, so there's no complaining and whining about who has to pay more and who doesn't.
Corey Casale
9/27/2011 11:43:02 am
This sounds like a good plan when on paper, but lets be honest, do we really want illegal imigrants coming to RI so they can legalize themselves so they can get an education? Sure it's great for schools and the U.S. because there will be less illegal people walking on America's soil. But not all Rhode Isalanders are going to agree with this idea. There may be conflicts in order to stop this and that's just going to cause more problems and conflicts.
Jami Scrivani
9/27/2011 01:09:26 pm
I think this plane will work only if these illegal immigrants are checked before they are accepted. If this person is just coming to this country to earn a better life why stop them? We are all humam and all deserve the right to a good life. If theyre going the extra mile to try for a very good education rather than smuggle drugs or cause problems like some other immigrants than whats the big deal.
Danielle C.
9/28/2011 05:26:31 am
I feel as this is very unfair. We have to pay and pay why can't they? If you wanted to be treated fairly and in the first place and get a good education then come to America legally.
Shawn Christina
9/28/2011 02:42:44 pm
I feel that this is a good idea and a bad idea. A good idea becasue we will have a better understanding of how many people we actually have in the U.S. A bad idea becasue this may allow more illegal people into the U.S. more freely.
Jesse Houde
9/28/2011 11:33:55 pm
Jesse Houde
9/28/2011 11:36:28 pm
I think its a good idea. The illegal immigrants we don't want are the ones who don't work or go to school and are only a drain on resources. If they are going to school and are trying to get into college then they are going to be productive so its a good thing that they're in our country, and they should be allowed to go to college and not have to pay ridiculous ammounts of money.
breannah d
9/29/2011 01:35:47 am
I dont really think its a bad thing or a good think, it just is. It seems fair to me though, that if you live in RI and you graduated from a RI highschool you should be able to get in state fees for a RI college. And if you think in the big picture being able to use in state fees lets more people actually get a college education, isn't that whats really important?
Melissa Lundin
9/29/2011 04:19:07 am
I do believe that this would be a good way to encourage undocumented residents to seek legal status. However, I do feel that there are many different ways it can be encouraged rather than offering in-state tuition. This will most likely attract more illegal, undocumented residents to Rhode Island which may or may not benefit our state. This plan will allow more people to become educated and cause them to become legal residents.
Monica Davtian
9/29/2011 07:48:03 am
I see both sides to this situation..I think it is both good and bad. I mean everyone deserves an education and a chance to go to collage and get a job and so forth, but i think they should not be given the "discount" that us Rhode Islanders have. Also if only Rhode Island passes this, imagine how many people we are going to have here because now-a-days everyone wants an education to get an opportunity to get a job ... If this passes Rhode Island would be "over-crowded" with immigrants.
Sara Kenney
9/29/2011 10:12:45 am
This idea is could go both ways. Honestly it's a fair law stating that if illegal immigrants have been here long enough they would be considered residents. Obviously if you want something out of your life, we should repect you for that. But on the other hand, this is promoting sneaking and not being caught. They are illegal for a reason. They shouldn't be allowed in the states. This might go really wrong because it's like RI is saying it's okay to come here because if you're not caught you can stay and you will be considered a citizen of the United States.
Peter Golish
9/29/2011 10:54:58 am
This is a horrible idea. Why should illegal immigrants get in-state tuition. They should have to become a citizen before they're allowed to recieve in-state tuition, not promise to seek it after they are accepted.
Tayla Rivera
9/30/2011 04:53:41 am
This is a bad idea, they're illegal so why should they have the opportunity ?
Drisanna Watson
9/30/2011 06:03:12 am
I think that is a good idea because of what I see of high schoolers, they are lazy and rely mostly on daddy or mommy for crap they dont really need.These people actualy try and will contue to try so why not give them a freaking brake.
Gregory Goodinson
9/30/2011 08:12:11 am
This is ridiculous!!! Illegal people in our country should have no rights never mind go to college at a extremely discounted rate! They should become legal and do it the right way like my mom did. She was born in Portugal, and cam here when she was little. But her and her family did it the RIGHT way. People these days don't want to work for anything. So no, this is completely not right.
Rebecca Pasquarelli
9/30/2011 09:14:16 am
This is insane. They're illegal immigrants. They don't legally live here. They're not American citizens. So why in the world should we give them a discount on our colleges, when legal citizens need to pay full price? Especially because the money needs to come from somewhere. It would come from the taxes of legal citizens. So basically, we're paying for somebody else's education, somebody that is here illegally. In this economy, it's hard enough to support yourself, let alone anybody else. We already give so many benefits to illegal citizens, this is over the top. They shouldn't be here in the first place. If you come to the US and try to become a citizen legally, and do things the right way, then that's great. There's no problem in that. But basically we're just becoming a go-to for everybody. People know that if they come to the US, they get free stuff and advantages. This is ridiculous. I don't understand why they are letting this happen.
Lillian Saran
9/30/2011 09:37:00 am
I don't really know how to react to this. I don't think that illegal immigrants should be able to have a Rhode Island "discount". I do believe they are able to have a college education, I just don't think they should get it for a lower price. We have some of the nicest colleges in Rhode Island and I don't think it's fair that people who just show up get lower prices. To me it's just shouldn't happen.
Brenna Reeves
9/30/2011 10:37:11 am
I thing that this could do more harm than good, this would only incourage more illegal immigrates to come to R.I. to take advantage of this opportunity. I have no problem with immigrants so long as they make an effort to become legal citizens. Its not fair to give a discount when they are illegal. Plus, that money is going to have to come out of other peoples pockets.
Allie Tierney
9/30/2011 11:11:02 am
I think it's important to give everyone a chance to get a higher education. But I think we're giving people more credit than they deserve. not every illegal immigrant would be doing this to get the education, they would just be taking advantage of it. Not all people have good hearts. While this is good for the people to have a better chance to learn it could be bad for Rhode Island, being so small overpopulation would be terrible.
Erica Hammond
9/30/2011 12:14:13 pm
I feel like if immagrants want to turn their life around and get a good education and do something with there lives then thats great they shouldnt be stopped from trying to make their lives worth living. Its not like the government is giving them all of these rights while they are illegal. Immagrants become legal then must spend a certian amout of time in Rhode Island to be able to get these rights. I feel like that is a fair enough deal.
Erin Blackmer
9/30/2011 01:26:40 pm
I do not agree with this. I don't feel as though they should have discounts on colleges when they are not legal citizens. If they want a higher education and are determined enough they should first take the time to become a legal citizen.
Matt "That Guy" Parisi
9/30/2011 03:54:10 pm
This seems like a really great idea to me. When people immigrate here, it is to start a new life for them and to make their children live the best life possible. Now,I also know that applications to become a legal U.S. citizen take many years to be completed, and can be pushed back due to racist officials. Having this will give those people who could not wait 20 years a chance to start a new life. It seems like a morally good idea.
Katelyn Vieira
9/30/2011 10:23:29 pm
The reason they are illegal just says it all. If they're illegal they should not have the same rights as legal citizens do. This is going to increase the illigal immigrant rate in R.I. If they have enough money to attend collegen they should have enough money to get all of their papers that consider them legal.
Kayla Fogell
10/1/2011 10:05:14 am
I'm totally for people coming to America to better there lives. However, they are illegal and should not be getting benefits such as this. Maybe if they paid out of state tuition but not in-state. Let them become legal before granting them with this privilege. Comments are closed.
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