Virginia’s in-state tuition law for illegal aliens went into effect on July 1st after being passed through the General Assembly along party lines and signed into law by Governor Ralph Northam (D).
One of the many opponents of the bill, Delegate Jason Miyares (R-Virginia Beach), expressed concerns back in February that the bill will negatively impact college-seeking American citizens. He said, “the children of those paying the taxes that are subsidizing these colleges, they should be the first in line…I can’t imagine a child being denied a chance to go to their dream school because of the legislation we just passed.”
Taking advantage of a loophole in federal law, the Old Dominion has joined a growing and troubling number of states that has enacted this taxpayer-funded benefit for those who are in the United States illegally – discriminating against American citizens and legal immigrants who live out of state, as well as foreign students.
What does in-state tuition look like?
The majority of states that provide illegal aliens with in-state tuition require them to have attended high school in the state for a certain number of years and also to have filed an income tax return prior to the date of college registration. The tax return can be filed by the alien, if he/she is financially independent, or by a parent or guardian if he/she is a dependent.
Which states offer in-state tuition?
According to the National Immigration Law Center, 21 states have laws or policies that grant in-state tuition to illegal aliens: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
Additionally, 11 out of the 21 states have enacted legislation to provide financial aid to illegal aliens as well. They are California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
Only six states explicitly prohibit in-state tuition for illegal aliens — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, and South Carolina.
The Bottom Line
According to the New American Economy and President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, more than 450,000 illegal alien students are currently enrolled in higher education. When they graduate, they will not be allowed to legally hold a job in the U.S. Why are American politicians passing legislation that doesn’t benefit or put American citizens first?