Oregon House passes illegal-immigrant tuition bill
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon House lawmakers voted Friday to pass a bill that would extend resident college tuition rates to some young illegal immigrants following a passionate — and at moments heated — hour-long debate.
After the numbers showed the bill had passed, supporters watching in the gallery stood up and, holding hands, raised their arms in celebration.
"When I saw those numbers I was very excited," said Hugo Nicolas, 20, an illegal immigrant who wants to attend the University of Oregon to study economics.
Rep. Michael Dembrow, a Portland Democrat who sponsored the measure, called it a "historic" vote, an important educational and economic step for Oregon.
The House's 38-18 vote sends the measure to the Senate. In the last decade, similar legislation has failed twice in the House after passing the Senate in 2003 and 2011. Both died in the House without a vote amid Republican opposition. This time five Republicans supported it.
The measure would allow students to qualify for in-state tuition at Oregon's seven public universities if they've attended an Oregon high school for at least three years and lived in the United States for at least five. They'd also have to sign an affidavit swearing they'll apply to legalize their immigration status as soon as they are eligible.
Illegal immigrants would not be eligible for state or federal financial aid, and they'd be subject to the same university entrance requirements as other applicants.
Republicans offered a counter proposal that would have made the bill expire in 2016 and limited the resident tuition rates to students in the country by July 1. It also would have provided more stringent rules on how students would follow through with their pledge to become lawful residents. It was rejected in a party-line vote.
The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Office estimated the bill would increase the state's revenue by $335,000 over the next two years and by an additional $1.6 million between 2015 and 2017.
The Oregon University System estimated 38 illegal immigrant-students would take advantage of the resident tuition rates during the next two years and 80 more students would take part in the two years after that.
The difference between resident and nonresident tuition is almost $20,000. At the University of Oregon, resident tuition fees for 15 credits, the average course load, are currently $9,310 per year.
"I know that this historic vote is really the result of larger historic forces that are at play," Dembrow said, referencing President Barack Obama's promise to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press
I got this from KMTR site:Â
Some examples of programs that could be cut in Oregon:
EDUCATION:
â$10.2 million for primary and secondary education, putting around 140 teacher and aide jobs at risk. About 40 fewer schools would receive funding.
â$6.4 million for education of children with disabilities, jeopardizing the jobs of 80 teachers, aides and staff.
âAbout 240 fewer low-income students would receive aid to help them finance the costs of college.
âAbout 600 children would lose access to Head Start and Early Head Start.
OK , all you who support illegal immigrants getting 12 years of schooling via taxpayers, and then getting to further their education in Oregon as a legal resident: HERE IS THE REASON YOU SHOULD BE UPSET!!!!
WE HAVE FUNDED THOSE HERE ILLEGALLY FOR DECADES, VIA MY TAXES AND YOURS. IF THEY WANT TO STAY, FINE, BUT DO IT LEGALLY. STOP TAKING RESOURCES AWAY FROM LEGAL CITIZENS!
@angelgabe What are you talking about, your ancestors (indeed everyones ancestors who came here 200 + years ago that weren't American Indian) came here to America illegally, stole and killed the only true citizens of this country at that time.Â
How truly arrogant!
@Postone @angelgabe War is he**. We came and conquered. That is the way things go: find new territory, conquer, if you can, the inhabitants, and settle.Â
Am I denying that what in most cases was horrible treatment of the Native Americans: No., but unfortunately for them, that is what happened.Â
Now, the Americans here for decades are mostly from England. They settled here, and began lives here. Others have come from Ireland, and many other countries: LEGALLY!Â
They have gone through the process in order to be called Americans, have âpaid their duesâ , taken the classes, learned English, the only official language of America, taken the oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of this Country. That is what I, and almost every one else on this, and any other post about illegal immigrants is raging against: that these illegals are here ILLEGALLY. They take from the system, take from other legal residents, take our tax dollars, force another language on us, force other beliefs that many have had to give up their own beliefs in order ânot to offendâ any one....etc. etc.Â
Yes, the Native Americans were here first, but as said earlier, they âlostâ the upper hand in regard to who settled here predominantly. That is the way of life, and although it is perhaps sad, it is true.Â
If you give it, they will come.  I agree with Chip (entry below).  I wish these SOBs would quit buying votes from minorities with my tax dollars.  Hypocrites , liars, and thieves = politician.  And why is DeFuzzio trying to do away with the draft (which we would desperately need in the very possible happening of a major war?  I have started looking for real estate in Texas, though I have lived her 26 years and love the geography (but not the politics of the state).
These TRAITORS that claim to be our government make me sick...
We migrated down to Oregon nearly 40 years ago and I've mostly loved my adopted State but I think it's time to consider going back home. At least there Americans are Americans and illegals are still illegals. They don't belong here or anywhere in the US. It appears that Oregon will be invaded as an illegal friendly State much like California has been.
What I would like to know is who gets to decide which laws get enforced and which laws don't get enforced. Can I pick the ones I like and disregard the ones I don't like. Let me see........
What flipping part of ILLEAGEL don't you people understand. They are here illegally. They need to be rounded up, put in jail, and after they have done there time then they need to get deported. The bottom line is that there here illegally. You don't buy a thief a dinner when they steal. You don't give a murder there own reward money when they turn themselves in. What flipping part of illegal don;t you understand? If you want to come to this country legally then that's different. Go threw the process that everyone else has to go threw. There's a reason that undocumented immigrants are illegal. Round them all up and send them back where they came from until they can obey the law of the land. And the law of the land still says that illegal is illegal.
Im glad. They still have to pay for it because no one said they get free school money. As far as Im concerned we are all people, no matter where we are born. There are much worse issues in this country besides education for illegals. Child abuse for example.
@aaronsgma They are not allowed to be here at all. Much less getting an education. They are criminals.
@aaronsgmaEvery time an illegal immigrant is accepted to a college/program that is one less spot available to an American. That same American who after college can get a job (in the U.S.) and pay taxes. Without a job code all that education we are allowing an illegal immigrant to have access too is taken with them somewhere else. If an immigrant wants a college education they can take back to there country let them file for a student VISA and prove that they are worthy among those candidates.
@aaronsgma Oh Yeah, lets see how far that thinking gets you in Mexico or any other nation with strict immigration policies are enforced. (Even not so strict)
The colleges and Universities are desperate for money! But even if they weren't I don't have a problem with anyone wanting and education even illegals. The fact is, there is "no one" in the United States that was originally from here, except for the Indians.
At the time the fine people of the United States killed a zillion Indians and took their land from them! And they are still treated like second class citizens or worse!
So I guess the rest of us are all illegals or at the very least immigrants. Go figure....
@Postone Oh for Pete's sake. We are talking about current Citizens being forced to subsidize illegals for their education. Since when did the "White Man" force anyone to pay for their education? Don't treat me like an idiot either, I am 100% Inuit, Caribou and Gw'tchn from Fairbanks, Alaska and raised in Seattle. I resent the fact that more are invading our land demanding rights that I and my family cannot even claim. I will tell you one thing, I will always stand for our American Constitution and the American way of life. Period
@Postone Wrong. The native Americans migrated here also. We did not kill a Zillion Indians. These illegal aliens are draining our resources. We need to DEPORT not support.
@givupongod Your wrong Sir. America killed 100 million indigenous people. But your government isn't going to teach its citizens about its dirty laundry. As far as the rest of your statement goes I'm in agreement with you.
@RougeCoyote  100 million is not a zillion. And I was taught about what my forefathers did. It was cruel and inhumane. And all humans here migrated here.
In 1950, Los Angeles was over 90% white. Today, it is less than 40% white. Which Los Angeles would you want to live in? Is that city better or worse than it was 60 years ago? Western civilization is deliberately committing suicide at the hands of progressive leftists. Â
http://revoltagainst.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/los-angeles-then-and-now/
http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/tab19.pdf
@Bumpy Well said Sir.
@Bumpy Read about the Deadly TB outbreak in LA today? Think any of that came from US Citizens that were immunizing their kids like the Gov't says to?
So how will the colleges avoid being federally charged with harboring an illegal alien? If the freshman stays in their dorms and eats in there cafeterias couldn't they be found guilty of this federal crime and fined? Seems like there are fewer and fewer perks to being a law abiding citizen these days. All the governmental intrusions none of aide.
This is unacceptable. These people need to be deported. They are criminals just by being here. Don't educate them. Get rid of them.Â
SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT ... If you cross the North Korean border illegally, you get 12 yrs. hard labor. If you cross the Afghanistan border illegally, you get shot. Two Americans just got eight years for crossing the Iranian border. If you cross the U. S. border illegally you get a job, a drivers license, food stamps, a place to live, health care, housing & child benefits, education, & a tax free business for 7 yrs ...No wonder we are a country in such debt.Â
@Durk Strombaucher Oh, Don't forget they get to vote a dozen times for Democrats.
I wonder if the Mexican government will do the same for us if we snuck over there border
@Pit Bull
SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT ... If you cross the North Korean border illegally, you get 12 yrs. hard labor. If you cross the Afghanistan border illegally, you get shot. Two Americans just got eight years for crossing the Iranian border. If you cross the U. S. border illegally you get a job, a drivers license, food stamps, a place to live, health care, housing & child benefits, education, & a tax free business for 7 yrs ...No wonder we are a country in such debt.
Ok my gut reaction was WTF???? Why are illegal immigrants being given college educations.... they are illegal...... But after reading the article completely and not just the headline, I am ok with this. I am 100% against illegal immigrants having all the stuff thrown at them that they do. However in this situation, its a little bit different. The bill does not approve anyone for free education. It does not give anyone automatic entrance to college. What it does is give a child the opportunity to further their education if they have the means themselves. This is something we should want for all of our children. These kids aren't usually here by their own choice (although I am sure they'd choose it) but they have been brought here by their parents who entered them illegally. They didn't have the opportunity to go back and get it right the first time. They are children. Punishing a child for their parent's choice is ridiculous. What this bill will do is give a kid a chance to become an educated citizen in our society.Â
"The measure would allow students to qualify for in-state tuition at Oregon's seven public universities if they've attended an Oregon high school for at least three years and lived in the United States for at least five. They'd also have to sign an affidavit swearing they'll apply to legalize their immigration status as soon as they are eligible"
There is no taxpayer money being thrown at anyone and no one taking any money away from kids who need it. This only allows them to be able to go to college for 20K less than what other out of state people would have. Â
They also have to sign a legal piece of paper that is a promise they will achieve citizenship the right way. If they don't follow through.... they have wasted a lot of time and money and can be deported.
@StephanieT Anyone paying in state tuition is being subsidized by the taxpayer-- that is why out of state tuition is $20,000 more. Also, explain to me why a US citizen residing legally in Idaho should pay $20,000 more to attend U of O than an illegal alien living in Oregon.
This country seriously needs a reset.
So let me get this straight. An actual 'American' from one of the other 49 states will have to pay more as a non resident of Oregon than a person that isn't supposed to be here in Oregon let alone any of the other 49 states. Is that correct? We should make an equal protection clause for all actual Americans, oh thats right we already have that. So how is it that a legislature can vote in a unconstitutional law without being treasonous?
Iâm sorry. I still donât think that illegal immigrants should be allowed the privileges that legal residents get: let them go through the normal LEGAL system and become LEGAL THEN they have the right to continued education, something that LEGAL TAXPAYERS have been paying for them for 12 years. In all fairness, they should be obligated to pay for that education, and all the back taxes that have ensued from their residency here illegally. I have no problem with LEGAL immigrants. They pay their fair share, and help the tax base, but illegal immigrants take away from those of us here legally who pay into the system and they take monies meant for those who have so contributed. Illegal immigrants are breaking the back of the system, and we have no obligation to foot their bill any longer, just because their parents chose to avoid the system and come here illegally and remain that way. Bet Iâm not alone in this thinking, either.
"The measure would allow students to qualify for in-state tuition at Oregon's seven public universities if they've attended an Oregon high school for at least three years and lived in the United States for at least five. They'd also have to sign an affidavit swearing they'll apply to legalize their immigration status as soon as they are eligible."
If they've lived in the US for 5 years, and attended Oregon high school for 3, why haven't they ALREADY apply to legalize their status?? Sound like they've had plenty of time. And what are we going to do if they DON'T apply?   Give me a tax break and "promise" I'll buy only in Oregon......
@JJ97477Â Thank God. Someone with a brain.
Figures. More theft from American Citizens. My own daughter cannot even get Financial Aid , but I bet if she snuck in the US from Mexico and pretended to speak no English, she would be given all the scholarship money our government can throw at her. Those that have to pay taxes for these criminals should simply not file and let the Feds throw us all in jail. Who will foot the bill then?
Indeed. Next year they will vote to make them eligible for financial aid. After all, we are allowing them to go to school, but they are just so oppressed that they can't affod it now. Take care of our own citizens first!