Debate smolders over tuition program for undocumented residents in Wisconsin

MADISON (WPR) Beginning this academic year, undocumented immigrants can attend the state’s public universities at the same tuition rate Wisconsin residents pay.

Critics say the resident tuition program rewards people who are here illegally.  Backers say it will help the economy as well as improve the lives of participants, which include a UW-Madison student called “Norma”.

Norma (who’s asked WPR to only use her first name for fear of harassment on campus or attracting immigration official’s attention) is a tall, lanky, communications student with copper-red hair and horn-rimmed glasses.  Like many of her classmates, Norma likes hitting the dance clubs or doing volunteer work in her free time.   She comes from a small town in Mexico near the border of Texas.  She’s been in Madison for five years, after first arriving in the U.S. with her parents on temporary visas.  The family had permission to be in the country for six months, but Norma’s dad had permission to be away from his $500 a month teaching job in Mexico for four years.  He finally returned to that job in 2009, but Norma and her mom stayed in Madison.

Norma says things are tight – especially after her mom lost her custodian job -- but prospects are still better here than back home where the economy is bad and the Mexican government is fighting drug cartels. 

Norma adds that she’ll be the first of her siblings to get a college degree, thanks to the UW’s resident tuition program.  Before this year, she would’ve had to pay international student tuition which costs $23,000 a year, compared to $8,000. 

UW-Madison senior Javier Neira paid the international rate until he became a U.S. citizen two years ago. He says he’s glad to see a program that’ll help some immigrants get an education and make the UW system more diverse. He says it’ll be hard for undocumented students because it’s still expensive to pay $4,000 a semester. 

“At the same time, we want them to see this as an opportunity to grow as a person,” Neira adds.

UW System officials say only about 20 undocumented students have signed on for the resident tuition program systemwide.  But critics like Republican Representative Scott Suder of Abbotsford say it doesn’t matter whether it’s 1 or 1,000, the program encourages law-breakers to come and sign up for a discount education.  Suder says his constituents keep asking why illegal aliens are getting tuition breaks at universities supported with taxpayer money. 

But UW System spokesman David Giroux says undocumented students don’t get many breaks.  They can’t qualify for federal or state financial aid; the program requires them to have lived in Wisconsin for at least three years; participants must have a Wisconsin high school diploma; and they have to sign an affidavit pledging to seek residency as soon as possible. 

Giroux says society’s choice is now whether to give undocumented students an education, so they can find “successful careers” as residents and taxpayers, or should they be turned away and eventually risk become burdens – rather than contributors – to society. 

Norma says she and others in the resident tuition program don’t want much else besides a real shot at higher education, and see it as a way to become someone in life since there are no opportunities back in Mexico.  She plans to graduate in two years, and then find work in Wisconsin.

Meanwhile, UW System officials say they don’t expect any jump in the number of participants in the resident tuition program anytime soon.

--

Information from Wisconsin Public Radio, www.wpr.org