Republican grassroots activists, along with a growing number of GOP state lawmakers, are criticizing state Rep. Kasey Carpenter, R-Dalton, who along with some Democrats wants illegal aliens to receive in-state tuition rates in Georgia’s public universities and technical colleges. For example, the Whitfield County GOP— in the heart of Carpenter’s district— condemns his House Bill 120 allowing illegal immigrants to pay lower rates than citizens from other states and legal immigrants.
Here’s the link to HB 120
The Whitfield County GOP statement says: “Now is the time to stop giving incentives to attract illegals to our communities. Call Rep. Carpenter and express your opinion. 404-657-1803. Send the message: “Your tuition amnesty bill is a reward for illegal aliens. You claim this is for illegal aliens with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), but DACA is not mentioned in the bill.”
The in–state rates are far lower than out-of–state tuition (what non-residents residents pay). For academic year 2019-2020, the average tuition & fees for Colleges in Georgia is $4,721 for in-state and $16,879 for out-of-state.
Proponents are framing the bill in a way that makes it sound like it would only apply to illegal aliens designated by former President Barack Obama’s illegal DACA action. Here is a quote from an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article before the bill officially dropped: “(Rep Kasey) Carpenter said his bill would apply to participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA.”
However, nowhere in the bill is “DACA” mentioned. HB 120 is rather a giveaway to all young illegals who will steal away coveted college and technical school slots from citizens and legal residents. By the way, according to Attorney General Chris Carr, illegal aliens with DACA are still illegal aliens — no legal status, no lawful presence.
D.A. King, president of the Dustin Inman Society which advocates enforcement of immigration laws, says of HB 120:
“Carpenter wants to create a state amnesty to give illegal aliens in Georgia a much better deal on in–state tuition rates than U.S. citizens and legal immigrants from, say, Michigan. The Legislature, beginning with the House Higher Education Committee, needs to decide who they believe on the absurd ‘they have lawful presence’ argument regarding illegal aliens with DACA. Either they accept what Carpenter is telling them or they go with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. That court issued a crystal clear ruling that not only do DACA recipients not have legal status or lawful presence, but that the latter term is not even defined by Congress in the INA. It will be most fascinating to watch. I won’t miss a masked committee meeting on this interesting adventure.”
