Our Lt. Governor (CA GOP) chimes in.
Illegal immigrants are not getting free college education, Calif. official says
Cyndee Fontana - McClatchy Newspapers
FRESNO, Calif. - California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado on Tuesday said the public may have an inaccurate view of the state law that has helped college students such as Fresno State student Pedro Ramirez, who has become a new figure in the polarizing debate over illegal immigration.
Ramirez, the student president, last week set off a media firestorm by acknowledging he is an illegal immigrant. He attends Fresno State under legislation co-authored by Maldonado.
Tuesday, Maldonado held a teleconference to "clear the air" over Assembly Bill 540, which allows illegal immigrants who have attended a California high school for three years to pay in-state tuition at public colleges. The state Supreme Court upheld the statute earlier this month.
Based on some media reports, some members of the public may believe - incorrectly - that Ramirez and others are getting a free college education, Maldonado said.
Ramirez, 22, of Tulare said he pays tuition - $2,115 this semester - through odd jobs and private scholarships. He noted that a portion of his tuition supports financial aid for other students; Ramirez isn't eligible for state or federal financial aid.
Maldonado said it makes sense to provide a college opportunity for students such as Ramirez, who came to the U.S. as a child and has a taxpayer-financed high school education. Maldonado said college will help Ramirez land a good job and pay higher taxes.
"We're going to get our money back," he said.
Ramirez pins his hopes of achieving legal residency status on the federal Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. Both he and Maldonado want Congress to vote on the legislation, which would allow some longtime residents to become legal U.S. residents after spending two years in college or the military.
Ramirez said he was 3 when his family came to the U.S. from Mexico. The high school valedictorian said he discovered his status as he neared graduation.
Ramirez said he has received support but also a few threatening phone calls since revealing his illegal status.
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