Favoring Illegals over Veterans

Favoring Illegals over Veterans

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

March 15, 2013

In the topsy-turvy world of what passes for right in Obama-land more and more states are allowing illegal aliens to pay in-state tuition while veterans of the United States Armed Forces are being denied that same right.

If you are not as apoplectic as I am, read it again. If you’re still not fully disgusted you have neither a soul nor a brain and you are beyond redemption.

Let’s start with the illegals and remind people, once again, as I have done so often, that those who are here in the United States illegally have broken the law and should neither be in this country, nor in a college classroom.

The federal government should deny all funding to any state institution of higher learning if said schools admit illegals in the first place, let alone at in-state tuition rates. In order to receive in-state tuition privileges, prospective students must prove they are legal residents of a given state. How can they do that if they are in the country illegally? They can’t, unless they have forged documentation, another crime.

On the disgraceful flip side of this myopic coin is the unconscionable disrespectful behavior with which American veterans are being treated. And for the veterans it is a double dose of disrespect.

First, back in January, the Associated Press reported that because oft-moving military members rarely have permanent roots, proving residency has become increasingly difficult and schools are denying them in-state tuition benefits. This has unfortunately led to several lawsuits, taking time and money from veterans who can ill afford either, to be declared in-state residents of states where they are seeking their degrees.

“It’s been paid for – with blood and sweat and tears and deployments,” said former Army Sergeant Hayleigh Lynn Perez in filing a $10 million lawsuit against the University of North Carolina Board of Governors after being denied North Carolina state residency. (AP, 01/06/13)

“For the first time since the inception of the GI Bill, residency for tuition purposes is now an issue for thousands of veterans,” said Jason Thigpen, founder and president of the Student Veterans Advocacy Group. (AP, 01/06/13)

These are veterans of the United States Armed Forces being screwed over. They have made the sacrifices few ever deign to make. They are not asking for free tuition, just to be recognized as residents of a state for tuition purposes. The veterans are not looking for handouts, but instead, a hand up in an effort to better themselves to make themselves more marketable to avoid being dependent upon the government, something that ought be encouraged, not made more challenging.

Adding insult to injury is Obama for cutting the Tuition Assistance Program and having the audacity to blame the sequestration. This is the same sequestration Obama himself proposed and has used to its maximum public punishing effect. (See http://sanfordspeaksout.blogspot.com/2013/03/open-peoples-house-and-take.html)

This country is bending over backwards to placate illegals while it is treating its veterans with such utter disdain and disrespect. For those who are alumni of state universities, call them, e-mail them, send a smoke signal, and inform them, should they grant illegals in-state tuition privileges, you will cease all financial contributions.

Additionally, the money that state schools are using to give illegals tuition discounts should go to veterans for their in-state tuition – they earned it. The money we the people don’t give our alma maters should go to in-state tuition funds for the veterans. Let’s afford veterans the education they have earned. After all, they put their lives on the line while we enjoyed campus life, now it’s payback time.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.