State Senator Opposes College Tuition Assistance For Illegal Aliens
by Jim Brown
February 1, 2005
(AgapePress) - A Nebraska lawmaker is voicing opposition to a bill in the state legislature that would reward illegal aliens with special tuition benefits. The legislation, introduced by Senator Dianna Schimek, would allow illegal aliens' children to qualify for in-state tuition at the University of Nebraska, provided the children have graduated from a high school in the state. State Senator Adrian Smith objects to the legislation, however. He says the bill undermines federal immigration laws and rewards lawbreakers instead of rewarding people who came into the United States legally and are patiently awaiting permanent resident status.
"We need to create a system that acknowledges those law-abiding citizens who are trying desperately to abide by the law and provide an income for their family," Smith says. "They're working hard, so I want to acknowledge that up front."
The Nebraska legislator says he is not only opposed to Schimek's proposed state law, but is also advocating tighter controls in the U.S. government's immigration regulations. "We need to reform the laws at the federal level, which doesn't happen to be in my jurisdiction," he says, but nevertheless, he insists that changes are needed to be fair to law-abiding resident aliens and in prevent illegal foreign nationals from receiving benefits to which they are not entitled.
One issue Smith finds particularly worrisome is the possibility of illegal immigrants coming to the U.S. with the intention of exploiting the nation's generosity to the poor and the unemployed. "One thing that does concern me a great deal, probably more than anything else," he says, "is when a citizen of a foreign country would want to come to the United States -- or even more specifically Nebraska -- because of our welfare system, knowing that basically, for those who can't pay, health care is free."
Senator Smith says he is greatly concerned by the possibility that some illegal immigrants may view America's welfare system as a freebie of which they can take advantage. He is criticizing Senator Schimek's legislation as an attempt to confer benefits on people whose illegal status warrants prosecution rather than perks. Nevertheless, Schimek has vowed to continue reintroducing the bill until it passes.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
