* This wasn’t necessarily a huge piece of legislation, but it is quite unusual in that it defies the national trend on a very hot-button issue…
Gov. Pat Quinn on Monday signed a measure into law creating a privately funded scholarship program for documented and undocumented immigrants, a move supporters hailed as a civil rights victory as other states have recently moved in the other direction on immigration.
The Illinois DREAM Act creates a nine-member commission that will oversee the scholarship fund, which is aimed at removing one of the biggest barriers to higher education for immigrants: cost.
“It is a special day, a historic day, a landmark day where we in Illinois, the Land of Lincoln … we say to all people of our country and our state, we want everybody in, and nobody left out,” Quinn said during a bill-signing ceremony in the Pilsen neighborhood.
The measure narrowly passed the House and easily passed the Senate. Some opponents said they worried such a law would encourage illegal immigration to Illinois, while others said they were reflecting voters’ opinions back in their districts.
* More info…
Immigrant children here legally and illegally can qualify if they attend an Illinois high school for at least three years and have at least one parent who immigrated to the United States.
Private scholarships are among the few ways that illegal immigrants can pay for college because they don’t qualify for government financial aid. Illinois already offers in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants at public universities.
The new law also lets anyone with a Social Security number or taxpayer identification number to enroll in state-run college savings programs. It also requires high school counselors to provide college information to immigrant children.
The state’s far Right was initially outraged by the legislation. But top Democrats were all jumping on board yesterday…
“Immigrants are a driving force in our city’s cultural and economic life, and opening the way for all Chicago students to earn an excellent higher education will make our city even stronger,” Emanuel said in a statement.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who was invited to the signing, was called to Washington for a debt vote.
“I am disappointed that I missed the opportunity,” Gutierrez said. “I was really looking forward to it.”
“Because our immigration system has been in a shambles for almost three decades, individual states and localities are having to pick up the pieces,” he said. “Illinois has been and continues to be visionary in its approach to including immigrants into the fabric of our communities.
- just sayin' - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 11:03 am:
I don’t think you have to be in the far right to say it’s bad policy to have a law that’s an open invitation for more illegal conduct, i.e. illegal immigration.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 11:03 am:
The law is largely symbolic, and a real solution still must come from Washington (if you liked the debt ceiling debate, you’re going to love immigration reform!).
At a time when states like Arizona and Alabama are passing laws designed to marginalize the fastest growing segment of our population, Illinois went the opposite direction. Illinois said, “well, you’re here and it looks like you’re staying. We might as well get you the education you need to contribute to our state.”
I think that’s the right message to send.
- Small Town Liberal - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 11:05 am:
I’m very proud of everyone involved in passing this legislation in spite of the obvious knee-jerk reaction they were going to get from the right wingers. Kudos.
- Small Town Liberal - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 11:09 am:
- that’s an open invitation for more illegal conduct, i.e. illegal immigration. -
Yes, because the current approach of treating immigrants as criminals is working so well to suppress the activity. Maybe if we start approaching the problem by thinking of them as humans instead we could actually find some solutions.
- Retired Non-Union Guy - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 11:10 am:
On the one hand, you want to help the kids who are in the position through no fault of their own. On the other hand, you don’t want to reward / encourage continued illegal immigration. As noted, Illinois is apparently out of step with most the nation on this.
I see this bill as one more law that just generates even more confusion over the whole issue …
- East Sider - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 11:17 am:
Why does the state need to be involved in creating and administering private scholarship funds?
This just further bolsters us as a sanctuary state. And for those who say that illegal aliens aren’t criminals…please explain how someone who knowingly commits a crime is not a criminal?
- just sayin' - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 11:25 am:
“Maybe if we start approaching the problem by thinking of them as humans . . .”
Oh come on, that’s far Left gibberish. What does that even mean? I’m quite sure the immigration laws start with the premise that it’s humans who need to follow the immigration laws. Pretty sure we don’t worry about rabbits crossing over the border without proper documentation.
I would at least ask those who constantly harp about our state’s fiscal woes to acknowledge they are part of the problem when they back legislation that invites more people here in violation of our immigration laws, and that those folks, yes humans, will place an increased burden on already strained government services and budgets.
This is just more pander bear legislation. More vote buying with our money.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 11:25 am:
===please explain how someone who knowingly commits a crime is not a criminal?===
Lots of these kids were brought to the US by their parents when they were very young. It’s the only country they’ve ever known. I hope that answers your question.
- Wensicia - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 11:28 am:
By law, and Supreme Court dictate, we must provide public education to all children in through the K-12 system. Why throw away the investment in these students by denying them post-graduate opportunities that lead to successful employment? Better future taxpayers than a continued drain on society.
- East Sider - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 11:36 am:
I get that the kids didn’t have a choice. However, at what point do we stop encouraging illegal immigration? If I’m a poor family living in Mexico, I would be doing everything I could to get to Illinois right now.
- cermak_rd - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 11:41 am:
East Sider,
And that may not be a bad thing. More people = more representative power in US Congress. That former farmer is going to have to work to make money so that labor is going to go to build up IL in some way. His children who are born here will be citizens who can help build up the whole country.
So the trick is to put a value on what he adds to IL (political power, labor etc) and what he takes away (maybe EITC or medicaid, public schools) and deciding whether that balances.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 11:46 am:
===If I’m a poor family living in Mexico, I would be doing everything I could to get to Illinois right now. ===
Maybe. But the trend is moving the other way lately, as unemployment drops in Mexico and more opportunities open up there.
- Plutocrat03 - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 11:47 am:
“denying them post-graduate opportunities that lead to successful employment”
What jobs are we talking about here? If you re not a citizen or have a work permit jobs that require a higher level of education are closed to these kids. It seems that they are being given what is sold as a lifeline, but after they are done with school, they will learn that the lifeline is connected to an anchor. Do really think one can be a CPA or doctor without legal status?
The problem is needs to be addressed at the federal level. The immigration issue is a lot more complex than whether to allow poorly educated people to come into this country. There are a lot of talented, educated folks who are denied entry as well. I guess it is hopeless, but the solution has to come from the Washington 536 plus 1
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 11:56 am:
Actually, it’s not going to be the Mexican kids, but the Irish and Greek kids that will be filling up our schools pretty soon.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 12:06 pm:
“I don’t think you have to be in the far right to say it’s bad policy to have a law that’s an open invitation for more illegal conduct, i.e. illegal immigration.”
How is this an open invitation for more illegal conduct? Are people in Guatemala going to go, “Hey, Illinois in the USA has privately funded scholarships for college, so I’m gonna head up there and sneak in, have kids, and take a chance on the possibility that money may or may not be in this fund.”
Hogwash. There’s no open invitation for illegal conduct. I highly doubt anyone coming to Illinois illegally is a highly informed political junkie who is cognizant of the latest policy events.
Let it be known, that if no one wants to give money to these funds, the entire law will be practically useless.
The Illinois Dream law is simply letting people get opportunities to become more educated Illinoisans who may or may not contribute to a hopefully prosperous future for our state. The real solutions to curbing illegal immigration operate on a national basis.
- Bob - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 12:11 pm:
I have work and pay for my Child’s education! I have worked all my life paid taxes and Social Security. Now Illegals can draw off my money I have paid in and possible go to college for free! What a great country we live in. But the whole story is the Votes that the democratic party is getting out of all this.
- hawksfan - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 12:15 pm:
They can’t draw off your money, its funded privately not by taxpayers.
- Nuance - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 12:23 pm:
I recently read somewhere that the US is currently in negative numbers on immigration with Mexico now. There are more people returning to Mexico than are coming here. It cited two reasons: 1. Better job opportunities and improving educational opportunities in Mexico and 2. fear of the border violence.
Sorry, can’t remember where I read it nor how credible it was.
If it is true, maybe we should request that Mexico do the same for illegal immigrants (aka humans) there from the US:) If they do that then I am all for us doing this!
- Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 12:36 pm:
Even if private funds are used, taxpayers have to fund the infrastructure to support this initiative.
The student will be taking a slot at a state university from another qualified legal resident.
The graduating student will not be able to work in the country.
If there already was a path to citizenship, and we were in the middle of the process of implementing it, I’d have no problem with getting a leg up for these students, but since there will be no such path in the foreseeable future, we should have considered my points before passing this law.
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 12:55 pm:
@Precinct Captain: You can’t isolate this program from the entire package. If I were in Guatemala (or Somalia or any impoverished area) and I could get my kids all the benefits they get here I’d chop off my arm in exchange.
- Bill Baar - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 12:56 pm:
Via Sacromento City News a few days ago.
There are fewer undocumented immigrants in California – and the Sacramento region – because many are now finding the American dream south of the border.
“It’s now easier to buy homes on credit, find a job and access higher education in Mexico,” Sacramento’s Mexican consul general, Carlos González Gutiérrez, said Wednesday. “We have become a middle-class country.”
Mexico’s unemployment rate is now 4.9 percent, compared with 9.4 percent joblessness in the United States.
An estimated 300,000 undocumented immigrants have left California since 2008, though the remaining 2.6 million still make up 7 percent of the population and 9 percent of the labor force, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.
I suppose the question is if I send my kid to in Mexico –for Med School lets say– will I get the same benefits?
- Bill Baar - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 1:02 pm:
Also google Michael Barone’s piece on the New Reality on Illegal Immigration.
Even more important, things have changed in Mexico. Its birth rate has fallen from 7 children per woman in 1971 to 3.2 in 1990 and 2 in 2010, barely enough to prevent population loss.
Mexico has finally become a majority middle-class country, former Foreign Minister Jorge Castaneda argues in his recent book “Manana Forever?” Mexico has more cars and television sets than households now, most Mexicans have credit cards and there are almost as many cell phones as people.
There has been a boom in higher education, especially in technical schools. The increasing numbers of well-educated Mexicans have no need to go to the United States to live a comfortable and even affluent life. Mexico has grown its way out of poverty.
The historical experience has been that countries cease generating large numbers of immigrants when they reach a certain economic level, as Germany did in the 1880s. Mass migration from Puerto Rico, whose residents are U.S. citizens, ended in the early 1960s when income levels reached one-third of those on the mainland.
Democrats have long thought the US would become far more Hispanic, and all those Hispanics would become Demorats. Given that hispanics spread out far more throughout Illinois (witness the difficulty coming up with two Cong. Districts) I have a feeling the Democrats push for amensty to create a new generation of Democratic voters is going to fail on many levels: not enough coming, not enough concentrated to swing districts, and probably not as Democratic leaning as many might think they’ll be.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 1:40 pm:
@lake county democrat
I’m not trying to draw a split between this bill and all the other benefits of America, but I was specifically responding to just sayin’ who said, this was an “open invitation for more illegal conduct.”
I believe his/her line of thinking is nonsense. You are right LCD that the entire package of this country is a terrific offering with or without Illinois Dream, which again I believe very few people coming into this country will be thinking, let alone knowing, about.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 1:45 pm:
@Cincinnatus
“The student will be taking a slot at a state university from another qualified legal resident.”
Not necessarily. A qualified illegal resident may be taking a slot that would go to a lesser qualified legal resident, keeping the academic admission statistics of an institution from falling.
- Liandro - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 2:34 pm:
Is the commission paid? Are they attending public universities where the tuition amount reflects tax dollar investment? Are we just turning a blind eye to parents who knowingly remain in the country unlawfully? I’m not in a rampage about this bill like some, but to say it is some civil rights victory seems quite a stretch. I don’t think I would like the answers to at least some of those questions.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 2, 11 @ 9:53 pm:
–Actually, it’s not going to be the Mexican kids, but the Irish and Greek kids that will be filling up our schools pretty soon.==
Add Poles, Ukranians, the Stans, Phillipinos, Indians, Pakistanis and Chinese to the top of the list, too. People are voting with their feet and American employers and the United States government have said come on in.
Who do you thinks been doing those jobs? Teenagers from Wilmette?
Cincy, they won’t get jobs? You think they’ve been living on welfare while they’re here?