Editor:

I am against House Bill 241 because it un-diversifies our educational system, promotes economic strains in our community and consciously separates people by status. This bill repeals the in-state tuition discount for undocumented students, which will increase their tuition costs and create an unrealistic barrier that will prevent them from furthering their education.

First, this bill further promotes the undocumented immigrant population to remain stagnant in its current social class. It does NOT help individuals increase earning power so they can further contribute to our community, but rather legally segregates members of society. Would society prefer an undocumented person with a school book in his or her hands or an undocumented person who is incarcerated or strains our health care system? Obviously an education creates a better opportunity.

Second, the Utah illegal immigration population includes undocumented minors who were illegally brought to this country by their parents. By passing this bill, the government is telling certain children that society doesn’t care about them. I do not support illegal immigration; however, I realize that the current system is flawed. I will support a reasonable approach to better control immigration, but limiting educational opportunities is morally wrong.

Third, some think that an education for undocumented students is pointless because they will not be able to gain employment after graduation. However, there are various options graduates can pursue, such as returning to their native lands and adding value to that country or being sponsored by a company.

The Rev. France A. Davis said, “By keeping others below oneself, (it) limits one’s upward mobility. But by helping others reach their potential, both individuals can rise together higher than if they did it by themselves.”

Society, overall, is not better by sabotaging others from reaching their goals, but by helping one another achieve success the overall society improves. As a society we cannot segregate people according to their race, age, gender, social status or legal status, but rather evaluate individuals by their character.

James R. LeybaSenior, Finance