AB 540 condones illegal immigration

Jordan is a second-year undeclared student.

By Kimberly S. Jordan

The purpose of the University of California is to serve
California citizens, not undocumented immigrants or out-of-state
students. For this reason, it’s a public university and not
private.

Those who support the University of California’s opening
its doors to everyone by having the UC Regents approve AB-540
““ which states undocumented immigrants can attend the UC
paying without paying out-of-state fees if they sign an affidavit
stating intent to become legal citizens and graduate from a
California high school ““ overlook several problems that may
arise.

First, it should seem troubling to everyone that by approving
the bill, we’re condoning illegal immigration, saying
it’s okay for undocumented immigrants to attend our
universities.

It sets a welcome mat at the UC’s door for all people,
however well-meaning and intelligent they may be, who break the
law. If we support this special treatment of law breakers, then
perhaps we shouldn’t frown when other benefits are laid upon
criminals. I guess it’s okay for Hollywood stars to be given
special treatment when they’re arrested, since they’re
not like other criminals anyway, right?

Undocumented immigrants may pay taxes and add to the California
economy at the same rates California citizens do, but I don’t
see how this makes them any less illegal or entitles them to attend
a UC under the same classification as citizens.

Because they do contribute to the economy, it’s fine that
they receive basic health and social programs and a high school
education ““ these are basic human rights. But having other
higher institutions such as the UC decide they are no different
than other citizens sends the wrong message to potential immigrants
who are considering coming to the United States illegally.

If they come, they only have to attend a high school for three
years and then they’re entitled to go to a UC for a
considerably discounted price. Who wouldn’t want to come to
California and take advantage of this? I don’t understand how
Governor Davis can support this bill.

Perhaps the saving grace of the bill is that it requires
immigrants to sign an affidavit that says they will apply for legal
residency in the future. But this should still be troublesome to
everyone’s conscience ““ would we let criminals bypass
jail so long as they signed an agreement that they promise to no
longer commit crimes? Of course not.

Comparing criminals to illegal immigrants might seem a rather
caustic analogy, but when it comes down to it, illegal immigration
is a crime. Sure, undocumented immigrants may pose no threat to
society, and I don’t believe they do, but we need to uphold
our laws with no tolerance for any deviation.

If we ease our immigration laws to justify illegal immigration
today, what law will we bend tomorrow, and the day after that? The
integrity of our legal system is at stake, not just the education
of a group of people.

Our judicial system now has an ambiguous task ahead of it: one
law says illegal immigrants cannot reside in the state, while
another says they can attend the UC under the same rights as
citizens ““ this doesn’t sound like a healthy approach
to me.

We should welcome people from all over the world, from every
country. It will make our culture richer and it will bring many
resources to our state. We should, however, encourage these people
to come here legally, not in ways that sidestep the law.

Once here legally, they can attend the UC as legal residents,
not as state condoned undocumented residents. In the long run, this
will benefit them more: they will be protected from hate crimes,
fraud and discrimination by a legal system that shows no tolerance
for even the smallest offense.