Illegal Immigrants and the Education Situation

Artifact #5

One question when it comes to illegal immigration is "What rights do and should these immigrants have?"  Illegal immigrants may not be United States citizens, but many have lived in the country for years and know no other place as home.  So should they be entitled to the same things that U.S. citizens are?  The article "Advancing the Debate: Why Give Illegal Immigrants In-State Tuition?" focuses on one of these entitlements: education.

In America, only 13 states grant illegal immigrants in-state tuition at universities.  In all other states, these undocumented immigrants, many of whom have grown up in the United States, must pay out of state tuition.  Currently, Oregon is in the process of passing state tuition equity laws, which, like 13 other states in the U.S., would grant illegal immigrants in-state tuition.

There are both pros and cons to offering unauthorized immigrants in-state tuition.  With the prospect of cheaper higher-level education, it could draw even more immigrants to America and those states offering in-state tuition.  Additionally, cheaper schooling could send the wrong message to immigrants: that coming to the United States illegally is okay, since they are granted so many rights.

However, there are also many benefits to providing in-state tuition.  Today, only 56% of illegal immigrants graduate high school.  One reason for this is that college, being so expensive, is out of reach.  With cheaper tuition, more immigrants could get a higher level education.  Many illegal immigrants in our country take very low-skilled, low-paying jobs.  However, with a college education, they can better contribute to our society and our economy.  One common complaint when it comes to illegal immigration is the toll it takes on our economy: that the government spends more money on its immigrants than the immigrants give back.  However, if immigrants can get a better education, they can get a better job and afford to participate more in the country's economy.  When these people have more money due to better jobs, they are able to spend money on other industries, which leads to a positive spiral, creating more jobs and in turn more spending.

When Reyna was growing up in the United States, her father made himself very clear on the importance of education.  He understood that getting a good education in the United States was the key for a better life.  Although Reyna got frustrated in her early years of school, she kept working her way through the public education system.  However, while both Mago and Carlos graduated from high school, Reyna was the only one who graduated college.  If college were made more accessible to immigrants, more of them could get a better education and in turn put money back into our economy.

When Reyna was in fifth grade, her first year in the United States, the classroom aide Mr. Lopez told her and the other immigrant children that "There is no reason for any of you not to get ahead in life.  You will learn English one day.  You will find your way.  Remember, it doesn't matter where you come from.  You're now living in the land of opportunity, where everything is possible" (Grande 218).  However, our country doesn't live up to that.  Should it matter where you came from?  Or should the United States embrace these new people with open arms?

In my personal opinion, illegal immigrants should be granted in-state tuition. There are complications, such as drawing more immigrants from Mexico and other countries, but I feel that if we limit the opportunities for those in our country, we are hurting ourselves just as much as we are hurting them.  Besides, many immigrants looking to go to college have grown up in the United States and feel more at home here than where they came from.  They feel just as American as many of the rest of us do, so why not treat them as such?

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