Providing an education to students in need should drive policy-making, agreed panelists in a discussion of House Bill 7 that took place Feb. 7 in the Union’s Panorama East Room.
The bill would stop allowing children of undocumented workers the privilege of paying resident tuition rates at public universities. The panel discussed a wide range of issues that surround the controversy.
“We must educate these kids, and it is our duty as a nation to do so,” said panelist William Evans from the Utah attorney general’s office of education.
The Utah Legislature did the right thing in 2002 by making House Bill 144 law and thereby allowing undocumented students to pay resident tuition, said panelist Theresa Martinez, associate professor of sociology.
She said that the Legislature should stay the course and keep the current law in order to send a message that education is a right for all Utah children.
The controversial HB 7 would repeal the law, forcing undocumented students to pay nonresident tuition rates.
“If the public wants to include all of Utah’s children in the education system, they need to remember that (the children) of undocumented immigrants are part of this community as well,” Martinez said.
The state owes them an education because it is their right, she said.
Evans said this issue should be decided “on the question of what is the right thing to do” and not because of fear and threats.
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff is in favor of the current law as a public policy benefit, Evans said.
The more education people receive, the better they are able to become productive members of the community, he said.
Kilo Zamura, executive director for the National Conference for Community and Justice of Utah, said HB 7 should be considered in light of the children affected by the bill, not by illegal issues. “The real dilemma is what to do with the children caught between a legal battle,” Zamura said.
He also said the community needs to ask itself if it’s framing undocumented students as a problem because they are illegal immigrants or because they are using an illegal path to put themselves through school.
Jump: Panel discusses HB 7
Panel urges education for all
Sub: Discussion on HB 7 should focus on the children’s needs, panelists say
Ana Breton
Chronicle Writer
Providing an education to students in need should drive policy-making, agreed panelists in a discussion of House Bill 7 that took place Feb. 7 in the Union’s Panorama East Room.
The bill would stop allowing children of undocumented workers the privilege of paying resident tuition rates at public universities. The panel discussed a wide range of issues that surround the controversy.
“We must educate these kids, and it is our duty as a nation to do so,” said panelist William Evans from the Utah attorney general’s office of education.
The Utah Legislature did the right thing in 2002 by making House Bill 144 law and thereby allowing undocumented students to pay resident tuition, said panelist Theresa Martinez, associate professor of sociology.
She said that the Legislature should stay the course and keep the current law in order to send a message that education is a right for all Utah children.
The controversial HB 7 would repeal the law, forcing undocumented students to pay nonresident tuition rates.
“If the public wants to include all of Utah’s children in the education system, they need to remember that (the children) of undocumented immigrants are part of this community as well,” Martinez said.
The state owes them an education because it is their right, she said.
Evans said this issue should be decided “on the question of what is the right thing to do” and not because of fear and threats.
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff is in favor of the current law as a public policy benefit, Evans said.
The more education people receive, the better they are able to become productive members of the community, he said.
Kilo Zamura, executive director for the National Conference for Community and Justice of Utah, said HB 7 should be considered in light of the children affected by the bill, not by illegal issues. “The real dilemma is what to do with the children caught between a legal battle,” Zamura said.
He also said the community needs to ask itself if it’s framing undocumented students as a problem because they are illegal immigrants or because they are using an illegal path to put themselves through school.