A question for Professor Kevin R. Johnson

Posted Mon, Jan 16, 2006 at 3:05 pm
The titular person is the:
"Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Mabie-Apallas Public Interest Professor of Law and Chicana/o Studies Univ. of California, Davis, School of Law"
. He operates the ImmigrationProf blog, and a few days ago I left a comment at his entry "THE 'PAPER CEILING' -- UNDOCUMENTED YOUTHS FACE BARRIERS AT THE BRINK OF ADULTHOOD (First in a Series)", which contains a report from:
Nick Guroff and Singeli Agnew are freelance writers studying journalism at U.C. Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism. Their reporting is supported by a special James Irvine Foundation grant to develop reporting fellowships for U.C. students and the ethnic media. This is the first in a series of articles on growing up undocumented.
The article is what we refer to here as a PIIPP. The comment didn't show up, but since there don't appear to be comments at many other entries, perhaps it's just a technical problem. So, I'll put it here and try sending a trackback. Herewith my comment:
If Fermin gets a tuition discount, it will come at the expense of a U.S. citizen, most likely a Student of Color.

What would you say to that U.S. citizen who had his discount taken away by Fermin, Professor Johnson?

Tags: 
piipp

Comments

kimo smith (not verified)

Tue, 01/17/2006 - 10:52

Being a military brat born in Germany I had to become "naturalized" U.S. citizen despite the fact that both of my parents were American citizens, with ancestors on both sides of my family fighting in the Civil War; and my Great Grandfather (x5) James Smith signed the Declaration of Independance. What does it mean to be an American Citizen? At 300 million (the 3rd most populated country in the world) population can we truely have a democracy or are we just slaves to the corptocracy of America, the Elite of Mexico and the Catholic Church?

D Flinchum (not verified)

Tue, 01/17/2006 - 09:15

"Oh, and by the way, as another poster here has more than once asked: What sense does it make to educate these kids when it will be illegal for them to work should they manage to graduate?" eh

I am that poster, eh, and I ask that question yet again.

Also I believe that in 1996, a federal law was passed noting that any state that allows in-state tuition to illegal immigrants must also allow in-state tuition to US citizens whatever state they may be from. I recently made this point on a political blog in VA, where I live. Not only do most state institutions need the extra tuition paid by out-of-staters, but also the in-state tuition is a nod in the direction of state residents who pay state taxes and thus support many of these colleges and universities over and above tuition. I would think that these institutes of higher learning might be a bit nervous at alienating (no pun intended) these in-state tax-payers.

eh (not verified)

Mon, 01/16/2006 - 23:29

"The comment didn't show up,..."

Mine didn't either. In any case, there is an email link on the left side for sending editorial comments, content, etc. One email comment should probably be that the normal comment feature doesn't seem to work.

Other than that, it's a rather ordinary appeal to emotion, complete with a personal example designed to 'tug at your heartstrings'. Which it does. But still it is clear nothing should be done to make the lives of illegals here now easier, since this will only attract more. Besides, all these kids can attend college if they pay out-of-state tuition; virtually everyone incurs debt to attend college, they'll just have more of it. Think of it as a small penalty/consequence for being here illegally, which we should not seek to make consequence-less, since immigration law does serve a purpose, and it is important that it be enforced.

Oh, and by the way, as another poster here has more than once asked: What sense does it make to educate these kids when it will be illegal for them to work should they manage to graduate? (For your average Hispanic -- most illegals are -- this is doubtful.) So all of this talk about in-state tuition is just a part of, and a smokescreen for, a wider amnesty.