Bill would raise tuition for undocumented students

By Brandi Grissom / Austin Bureau
El Paso Times

AUSTIN -- Jose Luis Enriquez grew up in El Paso and attended public schools from kindergarten to high-school graduation.

But if some lawmakers get their way, he'll be paying thousands more in tuition than his peers.

"I would have found a way to go, but it would have been much harder," he said.

Enriquez, who is not yet a U.S. citizen and does not have legal residency status, (i.e. is breaking the law by being in the country without permission. emphasis mine -mm) is able to pay in-state tuition rates at the University of Texas at El Paso.

In 2001, legislators passed a law that allows some undocumented immigrants to pay less-expensive Texas resident tuition rates.

This year, some lawmakers want to revoke that law in the wake of a year of heated debate over how the U.S. should deal with millions of undocumented immigrants.

"The bottom line is it doesn't make sense to most people in my district, in my opinion, that those who are in the country illegally would be getting a special benefit over others," state Rep. Jim Jackson, R-Carrollton, said.

Jackson is one of several legislators who filed bills that would eliminate the provision that allows students without immigration documents to pay in-state tuition.

Why is this an issue? If he is in the country illegally, there is a simple solution - deport him! The university should not allow "illegal entrants" to attend. If they knew that someone applying to attend the university had committed a felony - armed robbery, grand theft auto, insider trading - would they turn a blind eye or notify the authorities? The debate is moot. If they are not here legally, they should have none of the benefits of legal residency - no schooling, no work, no health benefits, just a free trip back to their country of origin! -mm