DECATUR, IL… State Representative Regan Deering (R-Decatur) issued the following statement following Governor Pritzker’s signing of HB 5093 into law. The bill provides in-state tuition and various scholarships, paid for by taxpayer dollars, to students who are non-citizens.
“Illinois families are already paying some of the highest taxes in the nation and now are being asked to subsidize college costs for students who are not here legally, and that is wrong,” said Rep. Deering. “By signing this legislation into law, Governor Pritzker is continuing to reward bad behavior, allowing students who are in the country illegally to benefit from a system they have not contributed to. This is an attack on our taxpayers, who expect their dollars to be used to benefit law-abiding citizens, not those who are here illegally.”
To ensure fairness for U.S. citizens attending college, Deering filed her own bill, HB 4097. Deering’s bill seeks to end preferential treatment for non-citizens in Illinois’ public higher education system by ensuring that no one who is not in the country legally receives better tuition or financial aid benefits than a U.S. citizen.
“There is nothing fair about this new law for U.S. citizens,” continued Rep. Deering. “The Governor has solidified his stance by placing non-citizens above those who are legally here. By allowing non-citizens to draw from already limited financial aid funds, we are making college increasingly unattainable for students who rely on financial aid and scholarships to pursue higher education.”
“My legislation seeks fairness by ensuring that students who are in the country illegally do not receive greater taxpayer-funded benefits than U.S. citizens,” concluded Deering.
Deering’s bill remains in the Rules Committee.
For more information, please contact Rep. Deering at (217) 876-1968 or visit RepDeering.com.
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