For once, it is worth congratulating a politician for "flip flopping" on an important issue. In this case, I'm talking about the change of heart by Sen. Emmett Hanger (R-Augusta), on illegal immigrants and education. According to today's Washington Post:
Swayed by immigrant advocates and his own experiences, Sen. Emmett W. Hanger Jr. (R-Augusta) amended his bill to offer the lower, in-state tuition to undocumented students who are pursuing legal residency, who graduated from a Virginia high school and whose families have paid income taxes for at least three years.
This was the kind of "flip flop" that deserves gold medals at the Olympics. Congratulations, Sen. Hanger, for realizing that - as you said:
It's not like they just showed up today...They've been in the school systems, and they've been good role models. They just lack appropriate documentation. This can be an incentive to help them.
Exactly right. Students should not be punished because their parents entered this country illegally. That is wrong, both morally and from a public policy/practical standpoint. I mean, seriously, does anyone think these people are going away anytime soon? If you are one of those who wants these damn illegal immigrants out NOW and are willing to persecute and harass them to accomplish your goal, I ask you, how much more are you willing to pay for just about everything - food, landscaping services, childcare - than you were previousl? How willing are you to see important sectors of our economy grind to a screeching halt? And how willing are you to see uneducated children fail to find jobs and possibly turn to a life of crime as an alternative?
Well, fortunately, Sen. Hanger has had a change of heart - ENCOURAGING illegal immigrants to seeks U.S. citizenship and to integrate into the great U.S. "melting pot" instead of bashing them and their kids.
Interestngly, according to the Post, Hanger's bill "received unanimous and bipartisan support from the Senate's Education and Health Committee, including from several members who previously opposed the idea." Amazing. As Claire Guthrie Gastanag, who represents immigrant groups, said: "I certainly did not expect what happened today to happen. I'm not going to say I couldn't be surprised again."
I hope she's right.