Keep education for all

By By Alaide Vilchis Ibarra

Thursday, September 22, 2005



Education is a right every person should be able to access. The truth is, however, that an enormous part of the U.S. population is denied this right.

Immigrants without legal citizenship status in the country struggle to receive a higher education because the law requiring states to provide education stops at the high-school level.

In order to remedy this inequality between students, the Georgia Senate will vote on a law that would allow immigrant students who meet certain requirements to pay in-state tuition. Kansas has already adopted a similar law by passing the House Bill 2145.

Just like in Georgia, this bill has many opponents. These opponents do not understand the value of education, regardless of immigration status. People against the in-state tuition bill argue that illegal immigrants do not pay taxes, therefore they should not be able to benefit from the state.

What they have not figured out is that illegal immigrant pay taxes just like any other citizen. By living and working in the state of Kansas, residents pay sales tax and any worker’s taxes. If people contribute to the Kansas economy, they should be allowed to enjoy the essential right to education.

But any of the states debating in-state tuition laws will benefit greatly from immigrants getting higher education even after they graduate from college.

One of the requirements for those who want to enjoy the in-state tuition bill is to pledge to work for the state where they go to college after graduation.

This means that states will enjoy the wisdom they have planted in the students. After all, education is the basis of a good, stable democratic country.

People who immigrate to the United States do so because they have few other options in their own country. They wish for better opportunities for their children.

Yet, the people who refuse to support the in-state tuition bill are closing the door for these opportunities. Instead, they prefer to have poorly educated people living in the United States because students, rather than leaving the country, will start working right after high school.

The reason why paying in-state tuition is so important for illegal immigrants is that they can not submit a Free Application of Federal Student Aid as an out-of-state citizen could. These immigrants know that the opportunities they are given by going to college is priceless and they are truly going to school to learn.

As students of higher education, we have to decide who the people we want taking classes next to us will be. Though the house bill already applies in Kansas, students represented by Chris Kobach are trying to appeal it. So, write your congressman or any representative in the Kansas government.

Let them know your opinion about the issue. After all, this bill reflects on the University of Kansas, and the students affected will be the same students sitting next to you in class.

Vilchis is a Shawnee sophomore in journalism and international studies.

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