Delegate David Ramadan in the House of Delegates and Senator Dick Black in the Virginia Senate have introduced bills that would block children of illegal immigrations from being granted in-state tuition at Virginia’s state universities. This is in direct opposition to Attorney General Mark Herring who recently said that illegals could apply for and be granted in-state tuition.[read_more]
Delegate David Ramadan commented on his proposed ban saying,
“is what constituents want; this is what Virginians want; this is what my constituents are telling me — people who work hard and earn their money and earn their status,â€
When Delegate Ramadan attended George Mason University as a legal immigrant from Lebanon he paid out-of-state tuition.
Senator Black’s bill has been sent to the Senate’s Committee on Education and Health. Delegate Ramadan’s bill is not yet in committee. While the bills are likely to pass the House of Delegates and the state Senate, also likely is a veto by the Governor.
A spokesman for the Governor said he
“believes that Virginia children who were brought here at a young age, grew up here and have stayed out of trouble should have access to the same educational opportunities as everyone else.”
Senator Black responded,
“We’ve got families who have paid Virginia taxes for a lifetime in the hopes that maybe one of their kids can go to a state institution of higher learning, and all of a sudden, we’re going to have foreigners on the fast track.
More here.
19 comments
They are Criminal Invaders, and not entitled to any of the hard earned benefits that the people of this Commonwealth have worked so hard for.
Invaders, coming here dishonestly, to steal from You and I.
Criminals, because they broke both Federal and State Laws to get here and continue to do so, as long as they remain.
What is the solution? To sit on your hands because we elected a terrible governor? I’m glad they won’t stop fighting and just roll over! These guys can walk and talk at the same time. Just because they put this bill in, doesn’t mean they aren’t also fighting against Obamacare, fighting for lower taxes, etc. Why would we put illegals ahead of Americans for in-state tuition? Doesn’t make sense to me.
The first step in dealing with this problem firmly, but humanely, is getting an idea concerning the costs illegal immigrants impose on taxpayers in VA. Since the GOP controls both houses, they could set aside a small amount to hire someone such as Steve Camarota of Center for Immigration Studies and some liberal consultants (e.g., from the progressive Urban Institute, whose previous “studies” on illegal immigration have not included the costs imposed by children) to come up with an estimate. That would serve the purpose of informing the taxpayers and citizenry and it would guide discussions in the legislature on such issues as in-state tuition.
This legislative session will face a host of critical issues from budget shortfalls, taxation policy, health care to putting in place a workable code of elected official financial ethics. This issue isn’t one of them and attacks the wrong end of the problem to boot.
Federal law prohibits offering in state tuition to illegal aliens unless all out of state students are allowed to have the same benefits. Section 505 of the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) states, “an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States shall not be eligible on the basis of residence within a State (or a political subdivision) for any postsecondary education benefit unless a citizen or national of the United States is eligible for such a benefit (in no less an amount, duration, and scope) without regard to whether the citizen or national is such a resident.†At the present time the Obama administration is refusing to enforce this law (illegally in my opinion) but there it is.
Not sure, Dave, but I think in-state tuition is allowed under Obama’s DACA (Deferred Adjudication for Childhood Arrivals) program. Herring issued an opinion that this policy allowed in-state tuition for illegal immigrants in Virginia. Hence the need for legislation.
That is in fact correct which poses questions in my mind that even if this legislation were passed what would be its standing in face of Obama’s DACA executive actions at the Federal level. I don’t believe this would simply be a slam dunk and no in state tuition allowed based on a GA bill, even if the governor were not to veto it, which is an unlikely option. So very best hypothetical case a drawn out court review supported by an unenthusiastic state AG going through the motions, if not undercutting his own case. Not a high value target in the immigration fight compared to something like e-verify employer implementation.
There are not enough jobs for Americans, why keep increasing immigration. Average wages have been dropping for years as the quality of life and standard of living for working Americans goes down because of immigration. Enough already.
This is a complicated problem, and a knee-jerk “solution” will not solve it. Therefore, I agree with Reinhardt and Notbent. Going after kids who want to go to college is not the most effective way to combat illegal immigration. Those kids had nothing to do with this problem. It is obvious to everyone that the illegals would never have come to America in the first place had employers not been willing to hire them. The Big GOP Guns should thus focus on employers who hire illegal immigrants. Furthermore, if there were no lifelong welfare, then all of those native-born Americans sitting on their arses in subsidized housing would have to do the jobs which illegals now do.
Good luck. I am all for it!
However, it has always went nowhere in the Va. GA. Why will it be any different this time around? Nothing but show? Mac will never sign off on it.
How about if you hire an illegal, you go to jail rather than subsidizing employers to hire illegals? How about a bounty for reporting employers who hire illegals? How about increasing minimum wage so that legals go after some of the now not so desirable jobs?
Why are you not talking about how the Feds now subsidize hiring illegals??????
Increasing minimum wage may costs jobs, yea, the jobs illegals have!
Nothing will change except there WILL be amnesty. The Republican’s want the cheap labor force. The Democrats want the votes of the Republican’s cheap labor force.
The Republican’s just want to figure out a way to pacify their base, while at the same time subsidize importing and hiring even more illegals! Prove me wrong, please?
The only viable solution is to go after these employers who hire illegals. The question is will the base be smart enough, and will hate radio stay focused on the topic long enough to do anything?
Answer is most likely NO. The media election “attacks” start in a just few months. Focus will be there for the cycle.
All the Illegal type labor will be safe and still have a “Teflon” type government card of some type.
Raising the minimum wage hurts the lower-economic class LEGALS and small businesses by REDUCING entry-level jobs.
Instead CUT BACK on all the handouts e.g. welfare – so living on the dole is not so attractive. And yes – enact e-Verify across the board; if you hire or rent to an illegal you face hefty fines or jail. That will stop it quick.
This blocking in-state tuition to illegals is a great START!
Blocking in-state tuition is DOA.
Already been tried in the GA. It ain’t nothing but for show, and to appease the base. I hope I am wrong.
They are not serious until they go after the employers. They will never do that.
I wish it weren’t so.
Did Republicans control both chambers when it previously failed to pass?
This time is different because Republicans control both houses of the GA. Perhaps an over ride of the veto?
Here is one attempt in the 2013 Session, HB 1525. A watered down attempt that went nowhere. Imagine an across the board complete attempt without exceptions?
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=131&typ=bil&val=hb1525
No way.
Here is an even better attempt to stop illegals from higher education in Virginia all together. 2011 Session, HB 1465.
http://openstates.org/va/bills/2011/HB1465/
No way.
Both these attempts were when Republican’s controlled the House, Senate, and Gov. Manision.
Neither Party is going to do the right thing regarding illegals. Those 2 guys are just playing games in my humble opinion. They know the score. It is all about PAC and campaign cash from employers.
Back to you!
Actually as far as I know, the FIRST attempt was made by Del. Chris Peace in 2008: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?081+sum+HB14
Passed the House with Bi-Partisan support by a vote of 73-26. Died in the then Dem controlled Senate.
Peace Statement about the bill:
“Institutions of higher education that allow admission of illegal aliens are endorsing a practice that is in violation of our national interest and a burden the hard-working citizens and immigrants who have become proud U.S. citizens through a long and legal process. We should end the practice of giving spots in our colleges to illegal immigrant and instead create more room for our sons and daughters,†Peace said.
Thanks for the info.
This is nothing but show.
Is there any doubt that this legislation will not make it to the desk of “T-Mac”?
In my opinion, the Republican’s in the Va. House and Senate, will pass this type of legislation knowing that there is no way T-Mac will sign.
If there were a Republican governor, or, any chance that T-Mac would sign it, it would die in committee again. Just as both the bills I mentioned were allowed to do. HB 1465, 1525, when Republican’s controlled the House, Senate, and Mansion.
It is just a game. They know that there is absolutely no chance T-Mac will sign it. They just want to blame the Dems, just as you did.
Perhaps you would deny that, and then attempt to explain why HB 1465, HB 1525 died in the Republican controlled Va. Government from 2010-2014?
I didn’t think so.
2011, HB 1465, also patroned by Del. Peace passed the House 75-24, and ultimately failed in the Senate Courts immigration subcommittee, because the Senate was controlled by Dems at that time. I cannot address why HB 1525 failed, but could possibly have been influenced by the fiscal impact statement ie: cost of implementation of the bill: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?131+oth+HB1525F122+PDF
Should you have further questions about that bill I would encourage you to contact Del. Rust, the patron. I am sure he could offer insight.
Would you please document that the Virginia Senate was controlled by the Dems in 2011?
Please remember R- Lt. Gov. Bolling was the tie breaker.