Update: Should the Children of Illegal Immigrants Be Allowed to Attend College at In-State Rates? [POLL]

Two of the “Dream Act” bills are still on the docket before the Legislature, which would allow the children of immigrants who are here illegally to attend state colleges at in-state rates.

Much has been said about this.

From, “they’ve been in this country not of their own volition so why should they suffer because of that?"

My argument has always been, “true, but it validates the criminal act their parents committed by being here illegally.”

And imagine this scenario: you’re a citizen that lives out of state and wish to attend a state college here. According to the way things now stand, you’d have to pay the out-of-state rate.

A little bit of inequity there?

Here's the latest according to this:

Two bills aimed at allowing illegal immigrants and the children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at New Jersey’s colleges and universities are headed for a vote in the state Assembly.

The first bill -- co-sponsored by Hudson County Democrats Assemblyman Sean Connors, Assemblywoman Angelica Jimenez and Assemblyman Ruben Ramos – would allow students who are U.S. citizens to pay in-state rates despite their parents’ immigration status.

The second bill would allow college-bound students to pay in-state rates even if they lack the proper immigration status to qualify.

“For some of these families, the difference between the in-state and out-of-state tuition rate could be the deciding factor in whether or not their son or daughter gets to attend college,” said Ramos (D-Hoboken). “It is incredibly unfair to saddle students, who have done nothing wrong and want to earn a college degree, with higher tuition expenses because of the decisions made by their parents.”

The two bills today cleared the Assembly Budget committee and now move to the full body for a vote.

It's unlikely Gov. Chris Christie would sign the bills if they get to his desk. In 2011, Christie stated his opposition to legislation that would help undocumented immigrants receive cheaper college tuition.

In his speech at the Reagan Library in 2011, the Governor said, in effect that we should not be subsidizing with state money their education. He then added that it's not a heartless position, but a common sense one!

Theoretically, the money has helped pay for the free education they’d already received by going to New Jersey public schools, which they were not denied.

Now some might argue that “common sense” would dictate giving these students an eventual chance to compete in the workplace. However, they’ve still benefited from having taken advantage of the opportunity of living here and receiving a fine New Jersey education at the expense of the taxpaying citizens.