Reader submitted via Judicial Watch.
Starting this fall Virginia will offer illegal immigrants discounted in-state tuition at taxpayer-funded colleges as well as financial aid to attend private universities. This month the state’s governor, Ralph Northam, signed the new law during a heavily publicized visit to Marymount University, a private Arlington college with an enrollment of about 3,200. “These students have grown up in our communities across Virginia,” the Democrat lawmaker said during the signing. “They’ve attended the same schools as their classmates and neighbors, they have taken the same tests, they have played on the same teams, eaten in the same lunch rooms and even gone to the same dances. They are valued members of our communities, and they are Virginians in every sense of the word except for immigration status – something that was chosen for them, not by them, by families just wanting a better life for their children.”
Virginia has 15 public four-year universities, according to its State Council of Higher Education, and dozens of private institutions that will help educate illegal immigrants on taxpayer dime. While more than a dozen other states offer illegal aliens discounted tuition at public universities, Virginia is taking it a step further by also doling out money for a private education. The money will flow through a special program called Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) that annually provides tens of thousands of legal state residents with grants to attend private institutions of higher learning. To be eligible, candidates must be a domiciliary resident of Virginia as defined by the state code, which essentially says individuals shall establish by “clear and convincing evidence” domicile in the Commonwealth for a period of at least one year immediately succeeding the establishment of domiciliary intent. It is not clear what if any changes will be made to the code so illegal immigrants meet the criteria.
More than 12,370 undocumented students are enrolled in higher education in Virginia and the state sees 2,000 illegal immigrants graduate high school annually, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal, a platform that tracks and supports undocumented and international students in the U.S. Additionally, Virginia has an illegal immigrant population of 265,830, the group’s figures show. The nonprofit claims that its mission is to build a diverse movement of partners and stakeholders advocating alongside immigrant and international students. Its goal is to expand access to higher education, degree completion, and post-graduate career success. “The U.S. is home to more than 427,000 undocumented students enrolled in higher education,” the portal states. “In their pursuit of higher education, undocumented students actively ready themselves to fill critical skill shortages and become better positioned to support their families, communities, and the U.S. economy.”
At least 19 states offer illegal immigrants discounted tuition typically reserved for legal residents, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Seventeen of them— Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington—passed laws to offer the perk. In two states—Oklahoma and Rhode Island—the Board of Regents allows it. In 2013, the University of Hawaii’s Board of Regents and the University of Michigan’s Board of Regents adopted similar policies granting illegal aliens in-state tuition at their school. A year later Virginia’s attorney general enacted a policy giving in-state tuition to illegal immigrants protected by a controversial Obama amnesty program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). At the time more than 8,000 illegal immigrants qualified for the taxpayer benefit. The attorney general proclaimed that it was the right thing to do because the illegal immigrants are “Virginians” and the state “should extend them an opportunity for an affordable education.” Three states—Arizona, Georgia, and Indiana—have passed laws prohibiting illegal immigrants from receiving discounted in-state-tuition rates.
Last year Virginia passed a law granting illegal immigrants special driver’s licenses. The measure directs the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to provide driver’s licenses to applicants without a Social Security or taxpayer identification number if they submit a certified statement that their information is true. Democrat legislators introduced the law after promising an influential group known as the Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights that they would “fight hard” for immigrant rights, according to a local news report. The same immigrant rights coalition has long demanded legislation to give illegal aliens discounted in-state tuition at Virginia public colleges and universities. One of the lawmakers behind the driver’s license measure, Senator Jennifer Boysko who represents Fairfax, calls it an “economic justice issue.”
About the Author
WTF! What is wrong with people? What part of ILLEGAL don’t you understand?
I know I’m not smart, because I was educated in Virginia.
But at what point, do illegals start obeying the law?
So if they disobey our law, we reward them?
Hell, why do I pay taxes? For criminals!
The black face governor and democrats has ruin Virginia!
Why would you want to punish the children of people that came here illegally for the sins of their parents? They had no choice.
And what about the children of immigrants who came here legally, became citizens and pay full tuition. How is this fair to them, or any Virginian student, or the taxpayers? You encourage more illegal behavior, after all, why bother to follow the law when you can get bettter goodies by breaking it.
The children didn’t break the law, they had no say in what happened. Having them treated as outcasts won’t help anyone. So as far as I am concerned, they should be treated like all the other children.
Why is it every time a Liberal wants to push an agenda they use some form of “do it for the children”?
Illegals getting in state aide, for the children.
Ban guns, for the children.
Institute draconian environmental laws, for the children.
Stop abortion, for the children………….Wait! What! No not that one.
So we see, in Liberal ideology children are merely tools for the advancement of their agenda and their agenda is definitely not safe for kids:
– Hypersexualization
– Inner city violence
– Sexpolitation of illegal immigrant children in the hordes crossing the open border.
– Drag queen story time for kindergartners.
– Explicit instructions in masturbation for 1st graders.
– Promotion of pedophilia.
– Promotion of gender dysphoria leading to high suicide rates.
Americans are not on board with this stuff, so get some better talking points if you want to be taken seriously.
“Why is it every time a Liberal wants to push an agenda they use some form of “do it for the children”?”
It’s LITERALLY for the children. I.E. treat all children the same. Sorry if that doesn’t go along with the conservative agenda.
But they won’t be treated the same. And we all know that.
But hey, who cares if a handicapped American child is deprived of school services because ESL took all the $$$?
Who cares if John is kept in a class that has to teach to the mediocrity? John, just sit there and suffer. Your needs are secondary to NON CITIZENS.
Because you see, Sorin has taught us that there is no value in citizenship.
“But they won’t be treated the same. And we all know that. But hey, who cares if a handicapped American child is deprived of school services because ESL took all the $$$? Who cares if John is kept in a class that has to teach to the mediocrity? John, just sit there and suffer. Your needs are secondary to NON CITIZENS. Because you see, Sorin has taught us that there is no value in citizenship”
There is a value in citizenship. I get to vote. It sucks for you.
Bullshit. You are just inventing things. This grant is specific and the funding is separate from any funding for handicapped kids. All that was done was to remove the barrier for children of undocumented immigrants to get the same services as all the other children.
Sorry but we’re not buying what you’re selling.
Get a new set of memes, the ones you keep casting about are worn out to the point that the average Joe in the street is shaking his head at you.
Don’t go by me, check the polling data on just about every subject and you’ll find Mr. Moderate and his family listen to what you proclaim, then look around themselves and see a serious disconnect.
“Get a new set of memes, the ones you keep casting about are worn out to the point that the average Joe in the street is shaking his head at you.”
Memes? Where did I cast memes? And the average Joe voted last november. That “poll” doesn’t support your assessment.
Last November?
You must have missed all the down ballot results. FWIW, (D)’s got killed in federal and state races.
As for the memes, Good Lord man, you cast memes all over the place.
Think about all the times you’ve made comments about Conservatives’ not caring about kids, Conservatives’ only worried about their guns, Conservatives’ suppressing the vote, Conservatives’ lack of respect for women and Conservatives’ racism.
Literally NONE of those is true, thus they fall into meme territory, simply false statements meant to keep the base enraged.
Why put the children of illegals in front of the children of hard working AMERICANS?! I just don’t understand your thinking. These are the same children that will be competing with your children for the same job. Except your child wasn’t afforded a free ride/or reduced college fees.
How about giving a free ride to the families of state employees? God know the state employees don’t get paid enough!
We can’t even get GM to thank us for their bailout or blacks to thanks us for all we have done for their cause.
They all just want more.
Because, Sorin.
It’s ok for Romania to put Romanians first, but not America putting Americans first.
And the worst are full of passionate intensity.
Remember this article when you liberal neighbor wants to borrow something.
Ahhh, but think how many NEW Democrat voters your tax dollars will create through this system!!! BRILLIANT.