In-state tuition for illegal immigrants is preserved with California Supreme Court ruling [Updated]
The California Supreme Court decided unanimously Monday that illegal immigrants may continue to be eligible for in-state tuition rates at the state's colleges and universities rather than pay the higher rates charged to those who live out of state.
In a ruling written by Justice Ming W. Chin, one of the panel's more conservative members, the state high court said a California law that guarantees the lower tuition for students who attend California high schools for at least three years and graduate does not conflict with a federal prohibition on giving illegal immigrants educational benefits based on residency.
California is one of several states that permit illegal immigrants to take advantage of lower college tuition for students who attend high school and graduate in state. About 25,000 illegal immigrants are estimated to receive in-state tuition rates in California.
A group fighting illegal immigration challenged the California law on behalf of U.S. citizens who pay the higher tuition as out-of-state students. The group won in lower court, and the state appealed.
College students who are in the country illegally are barred from government financial-aid programs. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected eventually to decide whether the lower tuition rates also violate federal law.
[Updated at 10:29: The court observed that the state law also benefits U.S. citizens who reside in other states but attend and graduate from high school in California.
"It cannot be the case that states may never give a benefit to unlawful aliens without giving the same benefit to all American citizens," Chin wrote.]
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--Maura Dolan in San Francisco
Photo: California Supreme Court Judge Ming W. Chin in 1996. (Bob Galbraith / Associated Press)
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Man, California just doesn't get it, no wonder they are 16 billion in the hole....great work cali
Posted by: Mike Fields | November 15, 2010 at 04:42 PM
Everyone needs to STOP donating $ to colleges/universities NOW!
That will get attention---when their coffers dry up. See who gets into the "special" minority MD program at Irvine! Gee you can get 20% on the MCAT and D's in orgo chem and they get in ahead of non-minority qualified kids! Judges and politicians should be required to go to them!! LOL!!
Posted by: James bond | November 15, 2010 at 04:44 PM
California refuses to get understand econmics as they sit $16 billion in the hole.....great work cali, we will send our illegals your way
Posted by: Mike Fields | November 15, 2010 at 04:44 PM
The California Dream has moved to Texas.
Posted by: Robert | November 15, 2010 at 04:45 PM
No wonder California is going broke! Military family members from out of state but residing in CA because of military assignment must pay out of state tuition but someone who is illegally in this country only pays in state tuition! That is just plain crazy. This is why the average American citizen living somewhere other than CA thinks the state is chock full of nuts!
Posted by: CASQUID | November 15, 2010 at 04:47 PM
This is just great! Add these millions of $$ to the billons these fools blow on ILLEGALs on welfare. This stupid state blows 20 BILLION per YEAR on ILLEGAL invaders - yes they ARE invaders..... TIME TO LEAVE THIS DEMONCRAT STATE - NOW - WAKE UP AMERICA.....
Posted by: John Hunsaker | November 15, 2010 at 04:48 PM
CA turns into a Mexican sewer
Don't we have enough non-illegal students to take care of already?
Disgusting
Posted by: JPs | November 15, 2010 at 04:48 PM
Ok, I'm a moderate that almost always votes Democratic. So I might not be the typical person to say this, but this ruling is INSANE!
Posted by: DG3 | November 15, 2010 at 04:48 PM
The FIRST bill submitted by the new Congress should be one that BANS ANY Federal bailout of a State (or states) that has proven fiscal IRRESPONSIBLITY (ESPECIALLY subsidizing ILLEGAL aliens)!!........
Posted by: Todd Peterson | November 15, 2010 at 04:48 PM
California, Progressivism's greatest triumph.
Posted by: Progressive Ed | November 15, 2010 at 04:50 PM
Well, that further secures the voting for democrats in Cali. Now they can turn their attention to more important things, like continuing to take away our freedoms so the voting process ends forever.
Posted by: ericdb | November 15, 2010 at 04:52 PM
Having unwillingly lived in "Cali" from 2006 to 2009 I have seen firsthand the Idiocracy in action. The cherry on top is they re-elected Jerry Brown to fix it all "LOL". The San Andreas isn't what's going to push "Cali" into the Pacific it's the colossal mountain of stupidity coming out of Sacramental. HAHAHA you guys are done!!! Flee; flee for your lives while you still can...
Posted by: Sevenofnine | November 15, 2010 at 04:52 PM
With decisions like this and with "moonbeam" as the incoming Governor, California is lost.
If the debt is $40B this year, it'll be $230B by the time Moonbeam is finally thrown out of office.
Posted by: Geo Williams | November 15, 2010 at 04:55 PM
Guess this why CA is the powerhouse that it is! Kudos!
Posted by: Dave_ct | November 15, 2010 at 04:58 PM
DAMN:(
Posted by: Pedro | November 15, 2010 at 04:58 PM
WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE THINKING? If CA. gets rid of the illegals where will they get their drugs! For all of you people that are moving your business out of CA. bring it to Texas there's lots of americans here that would love to have a job.
Posted by: patty in texas | November 15, 2010 at 05:03 PM
This is why I moved out of that crazy state. No wonder they are up to their eye balls in debt and have no idea how to get themselves out of it. Crazy, crazy people; don't look for other people to bail you out! The debt will choke you.
Posted by: Deb | November 15, 2010 at 05:05 PM
This is exactly what California just demanded MORE of by voting for Boxer, Brown, Newsom, Harris, etc. California is like a heroin addict that insists it wants to live while injecting another bag of the strongest junk they can find.
Posted by: ZeitTrash | November 15, 2010 at 05:08 PM
I think all "legal Americans " should leave calif. and make the politicans live there and support the "illegals"....watch how quick things would change!!!
Posted by: JDH | November 15, 2010 at 05:08 PM
Wow. We really deserve to collapse as an empire. We must be the dumbest people on the face of the planet.
Posted by: DudetheHampster | November 15, 2010 at 05:09 PM
This is not just a theory, I actually witnessed the results of this law. 2 illegal students that I met at West Valley Junior college got in state tuition while my friend from Oklahoma had to pay the out of state cost which is like 3x higher. He could not believe it, but it is true. I guarantee California is going to ask for a bailout from the rest of the country for all its problems. I say no bailout until they fix this type of garbage.
Posted by: Mark D | November 15, 2010 at 05:10 PM
P.S...make all congress contribute to and retire on social security "only"...bet that problem would be cleared up "real quick"!!!
Posted by: JDH | November 15, 2010 at 05:11 PM
America = Mexico's Welfare System
Posted by: MC | November 15, 2010 at 05:11 PM
What other country would allow this? No wonder California is broke.
Posted by: Lisa davis | November 15, 2010 at 05:12 PM
this is another example of why we're falling off the cliff here, too ludicrous to even comment on the law itself....they are driving those of us left with jobs out of this state & all that will be left are the unemployed & illegal aliens. good luck with that Jerry! expect more of the same guys, obviously they think we have money trees in out backyard we can go & pluck!
Posted by: patricia | November 15, 2010 at 05:17 PM