Rep. Tiahrt Makes the Grade - Introduces Bill to Block In-State Tuition for Illegal Aliens

By Dustin Carnevale, FAIR Media team

During the State of the Union Address, President Obama stated that "in the 21st century, one of the best anti-poverty programs is a world-class education." Unfortunately, such an education is out of reach for millions of Americans who struggle to afford tuition while 10 states are giving tuition breaks to illegal aliens. At a time when just about every state's higher education system is dramatically increasing tuition and cutting admissions these states are subsidizing illegal immigration and rewarding illegal behavior.

However, as President Obama noted, "the price of college tuition is just one of the burdens facing middle class Americans." Every seat and admissions slot occupied by an illegal alien is a spot unavailable to a hard-working, highly-motivated citizen or legal immigrant. This practice is fundamentally unfair to those who (to again use the President's own words) "played by the rules." How is it fair that under the policies in these 10 states, someone can illegally cross an international border and receive a benefit, while a citizen or legal resident traveling into a neighboring state is denied the very same tuition?

Luckily, there are leaders in Congress like Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-4th KS) who along with Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-50th CA) have injected a common sense approach into the debate over illegal aliens' access to in-state tuition. This week, they introduced the Fairness for American Students Act. By doing so, these Congressmen hope to ensure that no illegal alien will be eligible for in-state tuition unless that same opportunity is offered to all Americans.

This legislation will also allow citizens to sue in the event they are not granted in-state tuition from a state offering this benefit to illegal aliens. This right to sue is critical and here's why. The 10 states in question are ignoring laws that have been on the books since 1996 that require this equitable approach to tuition. However in Rep. Tiahrt's home state of Kansas, a case brought by American students was dismissed when the judge denied them standing. The Fairness for American Students Act will bring just that - fairness.