Minnesota to Provide Some Illegal Immigrants With Free College Tuition
“if their families are below a certain household income level”
Of course, there is no such thing as free college. The taxpayers of Minnesota will be footing the bill.
The College Fix reports:
Some illegal immigrants will get free college tuition in Minnesota
Illegal immigrants in Minnesota will soon get free college tuition if their families are below a certain household income level.
The “North Star Promise” program “will create a tuition and fee-free pathway to higher education for eligible Minnesota residents at eligible institutions as a ‘last-dollar’ program by covering the balance of tuition and fees remaining after other scholarships, grants, stipends and tuition waivers have been applied,” according to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education summary.
That includes illegal immigrants who meet certain criteria, according to the education department. The legislation goes into effect for the fall 2024 semester.
The “Adjusted Gross Income” must be “below $80,000,” according to the Office of Higher Education.
The College Fix emailed state senator Omer Fateh, one of the bill’s sponsors, twice in the past four weeks to ask for comment on the legislation. Fateh did not respond to questions about potential violation of federal law, concerns about pulling resources away from other students and potential incentivization of illegal immigration.
“We’ve been seeing declining enrollment on all campuses,” Fateh said during debate over the legislation. “If we don’t do something quick, we’re at risk of shutting down some campuses. … I see this bill as an enrollment driver.”
State Representative Marion O’Neill, a Republican, said she was “completely frozen out of all discussions” during the conference committee to reconcile different versions of the legislation.
Federal law currently requires that government entities that provide tuition benefits to illegal immigrants must provide the same incentives to out-of-state residents. However, this program is only open to Minnesota residents.
The “Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act of 1996” requires that “an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States shall not be eligible on the basis of residence within a State (or a political subdivision) for any postsecondary education benefit” unless the same benefits are provided to U.S. citizens.
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Comments
This has been the policy of Texas for decades.
“Free” college is really publicly funded college. I hope the good taxpayers of Minnesota understand that. If they don’t, they will.