Josephine Bathan, Amwell Road
Very recently, a bill that would have allowed undocumented immigrants to pay in-state college tuition in New Jersey was four votes short of being passed, and I am fairly content with this outcome.
This bill would have allowed undocumented students to pay lower prices for schools in-state than nonresidents would. Why should this specific group of students receive this benefit while there are other students, who share the same struggle, that aren’t offered a financial helping hand?
Ten other states have passed similar bills in the past. That’s great for them, but I feel that if people want to receive the same benefits as other U.S. citizens, then they need to become a U.S. citizen.
I do not have a problem with the country’s dramatic increase in immigrating individuals, but once they step foot into the country, they should be treated like everybody else. It is pretty evident that people have a common image in their minds of illegal immigrants and people tend to frown upon them. They may work as hard, if not harder, than the average U.S. citizen, but if they are working here illegally, then it is difficult to find respect for them.
Passing a bill like this is disrespectful for the taxpayers. The residents work hard and pay taxes for the benefits of other residents. Those who don’t pay taxes and desire to mooch off of the hardworking population do not deserve to receive the same advantages that we receive. There is only so much money that can be wasted on non-essential things before we become completely broke. It’s a shame that no one will be able to see the harmful consequences of passing this bill until they actually happen.
If students want to pay in-state tuition, then they need to make sure they are legal in the state before they receive the right to pay the cheaper price. Otherwise, there should not be any difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition.
If the bill had passed, nonresidents might as well be able to pay the in-state prices since we would be giving undocumented immigrants the chance to pay lower prices. At least these nonresidents would be legal in the country.
The United States can welcome whomever they want with open arms, but these people are only guests and should be treated as such until their citizenship becomes official.
