The deep-seated emotions and tensions associated with immigration policy and practice were on display Tuesday at a legislative hearing on a controversial college tuition bill.
Prompting the lively discussion was Sen. DiAnna Schimek's proposal to clear the way for children of illegal immigrants to acquire a post-secondary education in Nebraska at resident tuition rates.
"Many immigrants come to get a better life," Schuyler Central High School student Cris Salinas told the Education Committee.
"Most can't get a higher education because of the cost," he said.
Nonresident costs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln average $11,430 a year, Schimek said, roughly three times the price of resident tuition.
Salinas, a legal U.S. resident from Mexico who plans to attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney, acted as spokesman for a group of Latino students from Schuyler who attended the hearing.
Schuyler is home to a large meatpacking plant with a predominantly Latino work force, some of whom entered the United States illegally.
The growing immigrant population contributes to Nebraska's economy, pays taxes and is an important component of the state's labor force, Schimek said.
Many of those who entered the country illegally have stayed, worked, raised their children and established their lives here, the Lincoln senator said. Her bill, LB239, would clear the way for their children to go to college at resident tuition rates if they have lived in the state at least three years, graduated from a Nebraska high school and will seek permanent residency status.
"These children have done nothing illegal," Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island said. "They came here with parents who were seeking a better life."
They drop out of school because "they feel they have no opportunity past the high school level," said Cecilia Olivarez Huerta, executive director of the Mexican-American Commission.
"We are relegating them to the meatpacking jobs many of their parents are doing. We are saying: ‘Stay in your place.'"
Opponents argued that immigrants who enter the country illegally should be held accountable for violating the law and not be rewarded for illegal behavior.
"People need to be willing to wait their turn," said Susan Tully of Viroqua, Wis., Midwest field director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform.
"They should not be given an advantage over someone who plays by the rules."
Frank Nowak of Omaha, who identified himself as the grandson of a Polish immigrant who came to the country legally to work in a meatpacking plant, said south Omaha is "pretty much populated by illegal aliens today."
National security is jeopardized by lax immigration enforcement, he said.
"We're in a war. Some people (wish us) ill will."
Illegal immigrants "take services away from other people," Nowak said.
Jim Fougeron of Gretna said immigrants increase the tax burden.
"We're tired of it," he said, "but very few people know what's going on."
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents has endorsed Schimek's bill.
Voicing support at the hearing were representatives of the Nebraska Appleseed Center, the Nebraska Catholic Conference and the Nebraska chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
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