DREAM Act to cost taxpayers 6.2 billion dollars? Sort of, but not really.

[hkem1]

If you have watched Fox you have surely seen the new reports about the CIS's study on the DREAM Act. What Fox news continually says is that the study determined that the act would cost taxpayers 6.2 billion dollars. I didn't quite understand how that could be possible since the currently proposed DREAM act blocks illegal immigrants from receiving Pell Grants or other federal tuition subsidies.

After further investigation I found out how they got the 6.2 billion dollar number and I have to say it is somewhat disingenuous.

From the study

On average, each illegal immigrant who attends a public institution will receive a tuition subsidy from taxpayers of nearly $6,000 for each year he or she attends, for total cost of $6.2 billion a year, not including other forms of financial assistance they may also receive.

To estimate the cost to taxpayers of 1.038 million new students at public institutions of higher learning, we use the 10 states with the largest illegal immigrant populations as reported by the Department of Homeland Security.7 Table 1 shows the average difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at state universities and community colleges for one year of full-time tuition in the top states of illegal immigrant settlement.

You can see the table and study here: Estimating the Impact of the DREAM Act | Center for Immigration Studies

So basically they subtracted in state tuition from out of state and then averaged the difference for the states chosen.


The problem with this is that the DREAM Act does not give in- state tuition to illegal immigrants.

The DREAM Act would repeal a section from the 1996 immigration bill that prohibits states from granting in state tuition to illegal immigrants unless those benefits were available to all U.S. citizens. That statute has been ineffective though because some states have just enacted laws saying that if a student attended an instate high school for four years then that student is a resident for tuition purposes. That really does nothing more than to get around the 1996 law that both the House and Senate versions of the DREAM Act would repeal.

Also by giving the right to control higher education back to the states, the DREAM Act is more in line with the 10th amendment than the 1996 statute.


From section 3 of the DREAM Act.

"Restoration of state option to determine residency for purposes of higher education benefits,"

 

[Here4Good]

Good for you - you've done what everyone should do when they hear something that doesn't ring true - you've gone out and investigated the matter on your own, and satisfied your own curiosity, instead of relying on the "truthiness" of the source.

I wish that everyone would research items they intend to base opinions on this way.

 

[30ashopper]

How the heck do children here illegally get into public schools in the first place? Don't their parent have to show proof of legal residency before they can enroll them?

I guess if the parents came over legally on a visa, and that expires, it might happen. But other than that I'm not sure I understand why this bill is even needed.

 

[hkem1]

Don't their parent have to show proof of legal residency before they can enroll them?

No, states are required to have all children physically living in the state in school. This is regardless of citizenship.

The ages vary from state to state, but every state has compulsory education.

 

[30ashopper]

No, states are required to have all children physically living in the state in school. This is regardless of citizenship.

The ages vary from state to state, but every state has compulsory education.

Ah, well in that case seems like a good peice of legislation. It makes the best of a bad situation and indoctrinates young immigrant populations with the values of our society.

 

[Matt J]

What kills me is the amount of money received by students attending colleges and universities that is never paid back when they simply move home. India is the number one country in that category.