The Dream Act

[phatlip]

It's looking like the Dream Act isn't going to make it through the senate, and I couldn't be happier. This does absolutely nothing to correct the mess that is illegal immigration, and it's not fair to people who came here legally. I know of a guy who spent several years becoming a citizen, and was unbelievably proud when he achieved it. It's unfair that he did it the legal way causing him to remain patient for many years, while the Dream Act would reward people who are here illegally. The Dream Act may help in regards to people who are currently here, but it does nothing to stop more from coming. It's yet another incentive to come to the United States, and much like the healthcare bill, I feel this is laying a foundation for more to come (amnesty). We should be cutting incentives to come to the US illegally to deter illegal immigration, not adding more.

I'm also pissed that these illegals are going to qualify for in-state tuition. I was accepted into the University of Delaware over the summer. I live in Maryland only a couple of miles away from the Maryland/Delaware line. Furthermore, I work and have worked in Delaware for well over two years now. So I pay taxes to the state of Maryland AND Delaware (federal too of course). Despite all of that, I'm required to pay out of state tuition because I'm not a legal resident in Delaware, yet these illegals are able to qualify for in-state tuition in the state they live in despite not being a legal resident of the state (or the country for the matter). Also keep in mind that most illegals work under the table, so they don't pay taxes either. That royally pisses me off. I work hard to go to school. In fact, I wasn't able to go to school this last semester because I had to get my finances together (ended up taking another semester at the community college). This is totally unfair. I don't want my state taxes going to pay for their state subsidized education that even I can't get.

This just isn't the solution. I flirted with the idea of amnesty not too long ago, and decided against it. The Dream Act is immigrations equivalent of cleaning the gulf oil spill without first plugging the leak. Why cleanup the oil when gallons upon gallons continue to pour in everyday? Same thing. Stop them from coming in first. Cut the incentives for one. No government assistance, no drivers liences, no education etc. Then make it easier to become a citizen, because it's incredibly complicated, and takes way too long IMO. Then I MIGHT consider something like the Dream Act. Provided it's regulated more strictly. No in-state tuition, prohibit them from receiving government assistance for 5 years, and require them to pay a fine. And only then will I at the very least CONSIDER the idea.

Keeping my fingers crossed that this doesn't make it through the Senate.

[masherscf]

I wouldn't worry about it. Subsidized tuition is probably going away for everyone.

My wife has this issue with her tuition about 15-year ago. She was applying for a post-bac certification program at UVM. Although she had lived and worked in VT for six years and the certificate was only good for in Vermont, the University denied her request for in-state tuition. This has to do with restrictive rules.

That being said, the image of hordes of Mexicans wading over the border or Asians stuffed into shipping crates is probably a little disingenuous. A large fraction on illegal immigrants are people that merely overstayed student visas. This "Dream Act" does nothing for them.

Going to school out-of-state was your choice and what a great country we live in to give you that freedom. I'd wager that you could find an equal education at in-state tuition rates going to a Maryland State School.

[tokenuser]

I wish they would fix the processes for LEGAL immigration before screwing around with the borked up illegal immigration mess.

I have another round of biometrics test later this month. Someone at the DoHS USCIS ICE think that finger/palm prints and retinal scans change from year to year. That is on top of whether or not I have a hernia is a matter of national security.

[jd1138]

Yeah, we need to shore up the border with Mexico; there are too many TB sufferers making their way over here and other problems too. I feel bad for people in Mexico suffering, but they need to clean up their own country, stop the corruption, and turn it into a place where they want to stay.

We certainly don't need to be turned into a dumping ground for the problems of other countries. We have 10 times more people than Canada, and have less land area than Canada, and the USA doesn't even seem to want to take care of our own people (universal healthcare), so we need to stand firm and improve the USA first before helping Mexico, and Mexico needs to do the same for their country.

Token, good luck dealing with the gov't, it can be real frustrating dealing with gov't employees. Painful even. They have their own sense of twisted logic.

[tokenuser]

TB is a furphy. Ignore it. People cross the border all the time and have an equal chance of infecting someone who is a resident.

When was the last time you got a TB test? Like most Americans I'd hazard a guess and say never. I've had 2 in the past 4 months - 1 for immigration medical exam, the other because I now work for a medical organization (if I hadn't had one for ins 2 weeks earlier, I would have needed two for this job anyway).

How are your immunizations? As an immigrant I needed a full battery - despite having them as a child.

It's not compulsory for citizens. If I got TB or rubella - it was from an unimmunized American.

But, the people that like to scare you into thinking all immigrants are evil ( *cough* Beck *cough* ) is probably more likely to carrying an infectious disease than any immigrant. Ok, maybe not. I'm betting he is on a good health plan and doesn't mingle with the unwashed masses.

[jd1138]

I've had about 3 TB tests in my life (teacher certification requires it). I'm not slamming all immigrants, especially not you Token, I was just pointing out some concerns about TB carriers from Mexico. They made it out to be a huge deal on one of those 20/20 type shows I watched recently. I hope it isn't.

Most of us are products of immigration. My grand folks were Scottish/Irish/French.

[phatlip]

Going to school out-of-state was your choice and what a great country we live in to give you that freedom. I'd wager that you could find an equal education at in-state tuition rates going to a Maryland State School.

No doubt. Because at the end of the day, I'm not legally a resident in the state of Delaware. Just as much as these illegals aren't legal residents in the state they're in (let alone the country). I legally live in Maryland, so I have the choice of going to school in Maryland. They legally live in <insert country name>. They have the choice of going to school there. They don't legally live here though, so they shouldn't qualify for in-state tuition anymore than me in Delaware. I don't legally live in Delaware. They don't legally live in the United States. Seems fair to me.

I think I'm a pretty reasonable guy. I understand these are good people, and a lot of these people were here as long as they can remember. So if they want to go to school I don't really have a problem with that. But I do have a problem with them doing so and receiving any sort of money from the state. They simply shouldn't receive in state tuition. I don't get special treatment for not being a Delaware resident and I pay my taxes. They shouldn't receive special treatment either.

[jd1138]

How unreasonable of you, Phatlip, to expect FAIRNESS?!?!? lol. Just joking, I agree with you. Seems like every time I hear someone speak of fairness, they're immediately shot down and told "LIFE ISN'T FAIR! GET OVER IT!" Which leads to people just sitting by and accepting all this unfair crap. We need to make society fair again. Fairness, justice, ethics -- all important.

[zeo]

But, the people that like to scare you into thinking all immigrants are evil ( *cough* Beck *cough* ) is probably more likely to carrying an infectious disease than any immigrant. Ok, maybe not. I'm betting he is on a good health plan and doesn't mingle with the unwashed masses.

What's up with the constant Beck, or whoever, bashing? Not that it even matters because that's obviously not true. All immigrants are just people!

Really, we're all practically agreed it's a mess and we need to get immigration done right. None of us want to block immigrants, just get it organized and promote legal immigration over illegal.

To me promoting illegal immigration is equivalent to trying to institutionalize a new form of slavery with a 2nd class citizens that we use for cheap labor. As well as a insult to all those who do come here legally.

While bashing people you only think you disagree with does nothing but distract from the few times we're all seemingly in agreement here.