This is the follow up letter sent to the House Education Committee Members after the April 4 hearing:
Dear Representative
It seemed obvious to me that the committee lacks sufficient information to move forward on SB207 (in-state tuition for illegal immigrants). I think it should be tabled until the financial and legal ramifications can be fully and fairly studied.
It doesn’t seem like any one, besides me, has even tried to estimate the costs. The Fiscal Impact Statement was wholly inadequate. It said, “The impact is unknown but probably minor.” What’s your definition of minor?
The number of illegal immigrants who could qualify for this benefit has been estimated at low of 200. Yesterday, it was revealed that the amendment would expand this to nearly 6,000 illegal immigrant children. According to my calculations, that would create an approximate revenue loss ranging from $4,000,000 to $120,000,000. In addition, if veterans and non-resident citizens are treated fairly and equally under 8 USC 1623 of the federal law, they will be owed over $484,000,000 in tuition rebates.
If the state universities are so flush with cash that they lobby for lower tuition rates for illegal aliens, why is the Indiana Education Commissioner already asking for even more money from us taxpayers?
What do you have to say about the information I gave the committee? If you think it’s wrong, please explain to me why. How do you estimate the costs?
I was stunned that the committee was relying for advice on Angela Adams, the local immigration attorney who worked with the ACLU to sue the State of Indiana seeking to overturn 2 portions of Indiana’s immigration enforcement law (S.E.A. 590). Aren’t there impartial, unbiased attorneys who are paid for by the citizens of Indiana who could advise you on this? I don’t understand why this wasn’t done before the bill advanced out of the Senate. It sure seemed like the committee had a lot of unresolved questions about the law.
The committee seemed inclined to believe Adams’ interpretation of 8 USC 1623. I continue to assert that it’s ridiculous to think that Congress was simply trying to ensure that Indiana residents could keep their in-state tuition benefits if those same benefits were extended to aliens unlawfully residing here. The law obviously intends to protect citizens residing in the other 49 states.
http://www.heritage.org/research/report ... ederal-law I know some legislators are doing their darndest to parse the language in this bill so you can give illegal aliens this benefit without appearing to violate federal law. That is both fundamentally wrong and immoral! But, whether SB207 mentions the word “residence” or not, that is the ONE thing that is required before someone can attend our public schools or graduate from our high schools or enroll as an in-state student in our colleges.
This whole bill is an affront to the law-abiding people of Indiana. I’m tired of being forced to pay for other people’s mistakes. In no way is this bill fair to the majority of citizens in Indiana who you are supposed to represent. I urge you again, vote NO on SB207!
Cheree Calabro, co-founder
Indiana Federation for Immigration Reform and Enforcement