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September 27, 2011

In-State Tuition for Illegals, Whether You Want to Pay for It or Not

Justin Katz

Last night, with the approval of RI's chief executive, Lincoln Chafee, the Board of Governors of Higher Education decided to act in lieu of the General Assembly and implement a policy of offering illegal immigrants in-state tuition rates for the state's public universities. That makes Rhode Island just the fourteenth state to be so generous, and the first to make the decision without involving the people's elected legislators.

The big lie of issue, which Ted Nesi describes here is that there is no cost to this decision — perhaps even an increase in revenue. I spent some time looking at the numbers, last night, and although I don't have time, this morning, to make my findings presentable for this post, I just don't see how that could possibly be so.

I'll show my work (as the math teachers say) in a future post, but in a nutshell, dividing the total operating costs of the University of Rhode Island by the number of full-time equivalent students suggests that the university has to make $20,615 per student. Clearly, total tuition and fees of $11,366 for in-state matriculating undergrads won't cut it. If, as advocates claim, in-state tuition were sufficient to educate a student, then the University ought to be investigated for price-gouging out-of state students, who pay $27,454.

Comments

It's not a lie if you actually believe it. Progressives simply don't understand the economics concept of opportunity cost. In case you haven't noticed, they don't factor it into the analysis of any of their top-down, "expert"-driven policies.

Posted by: Dan at September 27, 2011 8:11 AM

How do "illegals" afford to pay for anything when you cannot work unless you are a documented citizen? Here's where it all begins. You cannot convince me that taxpayers, one way or another, are not going to end up paying for this. The next entitlement illegals will look for will be grants and then loans which they are NOT entitled to. Then comes the default factor. Who pays for that? We do! You want to offer illegals resident tuition and rates let them pay cash up front. They reported that at last nights meeting, the majority in attendance were opposed to it, yet they turned around and did what they (Board of Governors of higher Education) wanted anyway. These people should all be fired, recalled or impeached including NEA's "Governor by default".

Posted by: Hoff at September 27, 2011 8:50 AM

Every kid in RI deserves an education. You folks are entitled to be pennywise and and pound foolish if you like. Thankfully that opinion is not in the majority.

Posted by: Russ at September 27, 2011 9:08 AM

"Every kid in RI deserves an education."

Russ, why are you conflating the issues? It's like when you say that the right is "against immigration". Some people don't want immigration but people like Terry Gorman are not. They're against *illegal* immigration.

Similar case here. People aren't against anyone getting an education. Maybe some people don't want the children of illegal immigrants to get an education at all but for the most part, people are not against it. Most people speaking out are against them getting *in-state tuition*. There's a big difference.

Posted by: Patrick at September 27, 2011 9:18 AM

When you answer Russ,you only feed the left wing party line beast mentality.Ignore him and maybe he'll dissipate like a stale fart.

Posted by: joe bernstein at September 27, 2011 9:49 AM

Look, you can pretend that children of undocumented immigrants can afford to pay $29k/year, but that's fantasy. It's simply a question of whether we think the best and the brightest deserve an education or whether they deserve to be held back to prove a point.

As for the "party line," that's nonsense, Joe. I live on the southside of Providence. These kids are among the kids I see everyday, and I want the same for them that I do for any other child in the state.

Posted by: Russ at September 27, 2011 11:15 AM
...dividing the total operating costs of the University of Rhode Island by the number of full-time equivalent students suggests that the university has to make $20,615 per student.

Wrong, but hey let's pretend the university has no other sources of income and that tuition covers housing, dining services, and any number of other items not relevant to this discussion.

Wonder why that is that you folks (repeatedly) feel the need to misrepresent this?

Posted by: Russ at September 27, 2011 12:22 PM

Isn't an in-state tuition rate a recognition of the fact that the taxes in-state residents have already paid that help fund URI, etc? These illegal immigrants pay sales taxes, property taxes, even state and fed income taxes just like the rest of us. Isn't this a classic case of taxation without representation?

Posted by: John at September 27, 2011 12:47 PM

"Isn't this a classic case of taxation without representation?"... Let them become LEGAL residents and then we can talk, until then they are ILLEGALS. Doesn't anyone seem to grasp the meaning of the word?

Should there be an effort to assist these prospective (or current) students to become LEGAL residents? Sure, then AFTER THEY BECOME legal, let them pay in-state tuition.

Posted by: stuckhereinri at September 27, 2011 2:36 PM

Russ-on this it's worth an answer-namely-why does a born to privilege well to do guy live in Diaz' district?Gentrification,I'd say.That means pushing out people you pretend to care about so you can feel like an urban pioneer.
You've seen my problems with this in state tuition issue and they aren't about the students-it's just that people like you don't take the time to actually read what irks you.
The problem is
(1)end run on legislative purview
(2)possible consequences to higher ed funding posed by 8USC1623.

Posted by: joe bernstein at September 27, 2011 2:46 PM

Gentrification? My house has been in the neighborhood longer than most. Not like I'm in a converted mill or something. Sorry, swing and a miss.

"..it's just that people like you don't take the time to actually read what irks you."

Ah, I see. You do realize I'm one of the few lefties over here, yes?

Posted by: Russ at September 27, 2011 3:16 PM

So typical of Rhode Island. We are subsidizing, with non-existent revenue, the education of people who cannot legally work the currently non-existent jobs in this broke ass state.

Posted by: Max Diesel at September 27, 2011 5:06 PM

"Isn't an in-state tuition rate a recognition of the fact that the taxes in-state residents have already paid that help fund URI, etc? These illegal immigrants pay sales taxes, property taxes, even state and fed income taxes just like the rest of us. Isn't this a classic case of taxation without representation?"

No, it's not. You breezed right past the most important point: that they are here illegally.

We don't need to "round up and deport 12-16 million people", to quote the baseless, hysterical accusation. It is eminently reasonable, however, that we stop offering reasons for people to come here: jobs and government benefits LIKE IN-STATE COLLEGE TUITION.

Posted by: Monique at September 27, 2011 6:55 PM

Russ-old doesn't mean worth less.How did you come by the house?It may be none of my business-just asking.
I bought from a state trooper who had basically nothing in the place,so I got a good price.It's also old(built in 1925),but where I bought,I found myself in the same lower class milieu I was a part of.
I just don't see a non-monetary draw in South Providence.The scenery isn't too enthralling.

Posted by: joe bernstein at September 27, 2011 7:16 PM

Illegality isn't the central issue to me. There are plenty of bad laws and there always have been. I'd go so far as to say that most laws are counterproductive or at least seriously flawed.

The real problems with in-state tuition for illegal aliens (the proper, but politically incorrect term) are the incentivization of fiscally and socially problematic behaviors, the crowding out of legal residents who are more likely to stay and add to the local economy, and the economic opportunity cost of providing the discount.

None of these issues are addressed by the progressive central-planners and apologists because they lack critical thinking skills and refuse to believe in well-established economic principles.

Posted by: Dan at September 27, 2011 7:23 PM


How can allegedly poor,downtrodden,illegal alien invaders afford to pay $11,000 plus out of pocket to attend URI? Their kids get free lunch at school right? So how can they afford it?

Posted by: helen at September 27, 2011 10:56 PM


Russ,I lived in a South Providence neighborhood. I lived there because that is where I could afford to own a home.

One day I was talking with one of my Hispanic next door neighbors who told me that their family planned to move to Cuba. It just wasn't good enough here for them.

Posted by: helen at September 27, 2011 11:05 PM

Russ-I meant to say lower MIDDLE class.
We have a form of gentrifier around here now-people like Brown profs who can't afford the East Side have moved in during the last decade.The old residents have died off or moved to florida or nursing homes-it seems like only two people on the block are here longer than us(27 years).

Posted by: joe bernstein at September 27, 2011 11:25 PM

Why the mystery? RI is an economic basket case and here are the issues being addressed by the idiot Governor,GA and all these "boards". Gay marriage and benefits for illegals. Now those issues are truly holding back the State. If we can just rectify these pressing social issues RI would not be the worst state in the union to do business in. Stupid is as stupid does.

Posted by: ANTHONY at September 28, 2011 12:31 AM

RI is the worse state since it offers so many perks for illegal immigrants. Go back in history...when our ancestors came to this country many years ago, they kissed the ground and delcared their loyalty to America. They wanted to be Americans and learn English and live the American way.........The immigrants today, come here because they know they can get everything for free. They do not want to become Citizens, very few do.......I am not against people wanting to come to America, to become American. But that has changed today,the citizens of this country, now work to support immigrants....a far cry from years ago.That is not fair to our ancestors and we should not be responsible to support people with our hard earn dollars!! My grandparents are turning over in their graves......Such a shame...bring back Ellis Island!! Wake up people....America will be no more if this continues.....

Posted by: Sandra Gabaree at September 28, 2011 10:11 AM
The immigrants today, come here because they know they can get everything for free.

It's almost as if some here don't know any immigrants. It's hard to know what to say to a post like the one above, other than that it is far removed from the reality of most families in places like Washington Park.

Posted by: Russ at September 28, 2011 11:13 AM

"How do "illegals" afford to pay for anything when you cannot work unless you are a documented citizen?"

I'd rephrase to say documented resident but this hits the nail on the head. They will go to school but be unable to get a job in this country (legally), what can they do? I'm going to see if anyone has researched this side of illegal immigrants receiving tuition at resident rates.

Posted by: Don Roach at September 28, 2011 12:17 PM

Sandra

In the years proceeding the Civil War (or the war between the states- that's for Warrington's benefit) Irish and German immigration was on going. Legal immigration. The Know Nothing party was born in reaction to this immigration . Although the Know Nothings were anti-slavery they were motivated by their animus for the mostly Catholic immigrants. There is nothing that is really that new about the attitudes of many like you who oppose this recent wave of immigration. Some of the Know Nothings joined with the newly formed Republicans and some joined the Confederacy in the years to come.

Posted by: Phil at September 28, 2011 8:49 PM

"They will go to school but be unable to get a job in this country (legally), what can they do? I'm going to see if anyone has researched this side of illegal immigrants receiving tuition at resident rates."

Please do, Don! It's one of the huge questions that some of us have had about this insane new policy.

Posted by: Monique at September 28, 2011 10:42 PM

I still want to know how illegal aliens can afford the tuition. Where are they getting so much money.

I remember telling my father I wanted to go college and I was a very able student and he told me that I couldn't go because there was no money to send me.

When I tried all different ways to work it out,we were just too damned poor for me to go. That's also what happened to a lot of Viet Nam Vets. The poor working class kids went to war,the wealthier went to college.

So how are illegal aliens who cannot work legally in this country paying out of pocket for their college expenses?

Posted by: helen at September 29, 2011 7:59 PM

@Monique
"You breezed right past the most important point: that they are here illegally."
I breezed right past it because it's irrelevant. In order to qualify for in-state tuition rates, one must prove residency. There is no immigration status check. To deny a set of taxpayers something that the law allows them due to a non-existent requirement is to violate the 14th Amendment.

Thank you, come again.

Posted by: JohnG at September 29, 2011 11:44 PM

John G-you neglect to note that a current section of the Immigration Reform and Control Act(8USC1621)makes reference to the fact that states which extend a public benefit(in state tuition is one)to persons illegally in the country must do so by means of legislation.
So yes,RI can legally grant in state tuition to illegal aliens,but not by the process that occured.
Of course the potential loss of revenue under 8USC1623 is another consideration.
I don't see the 14th Amendment connection here.Under the Constitution the Federal government has control of the naturalization of aliens,which of course includes the entire immigration process leading to it.

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