Lincoln for college aid for illegal immigrants' Children; Huckabee maybe
by Jason Wiest, The Morning News: Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) voiced support for providing some children of illegal immigrants with college aid Monday, a day after Republican presidential contender Mike Huckabee said he was not sure he would support such a program at the federal level.
When Huckabee was Arkansas governor, he supported legislation in 2005 that would have granted in-state tuition to the children of illegal immigrants. The measure, an early version of which also would have made undocumented immigrants eligible for state scholarships, passed the state House but fell short in the Senate. Huckabee, who is surging in polls in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation Jan. 3 political caucuses and has come fire from GOP opponents because of his stance on immigration, on Sunday was noncommittal on federal legislation that would make the children of illegal immigrants eligible for federal student aid such as Pell grants and subsidized federal student loans."I'm not sure I would support that. . . .
Lincoln said Monday she still thinks such a program is a good idea."They've been in our school systems; we've made a huge investment," Lincoln said. "I think it's really important to make sure that we continue that investment (for students who do well) in a way that both encourages their legality and the hopes of them becoming a citizen because they are the ones who are going to contribute the most."Lincoln, who supported the so-called DREAM ACT to help the children of illegal immigrants enter college, said the children did not come into the country on their own accord, a point Huckabee made during last week's GOP presidential debate and again during his television appearance Sunday. . . .
"What about the children of Arkansans who are citizens?," said Rep. Jon Woods, R-Springdale, who has helped sponsor legislative hearings on illegal immigration in the state. "We have thousands and thousands who are denied scholarships annually, and they're citizens."
Tags: Blanche Lincoln, illegal aliens, illegal immigrants, Mike Huckabee, student loans, tuition
When Huckabee was Arkansas governor, he supported legislation in 2005 that would have granted in-state tuition to the children of illegal immigrants. The measure, an early version of which also would have made undocumented immigrants eligible for state scholarships, passed the state House but fell short in the Senate. Huckabee, who is surging in polls in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation Jan. 3 political caucuses and has come fire from GOP opponents because of his stance on immigration, on Sunday was noncommittal on federal legislation that would make the children of illegal immigrants eligible for federal student aid such as Pell grants and subsidized federal student loans."I'm not sure I would support that. . . .
Lincoln said Monday she still thinks such a program is a good idea."They've been in our school systems; we've made a huge investment," Lincoln said. "I think it's really important to make sure that we continue that investment (for students who do well) in a way that both encourages their legality and the hopes of them becoming a citizen because they are the ones who are going to contribute the most."Lincoln, who supported the so-called DREAM ACT to help the children of illegal immigrants enter college, said the children did not come into the country on their own accord, a point Huckabee made during last week's GOP presidential debate and again during his television appearance Sunday. . . .
"What about the children of Arkansans who are citizens?," said Rep. Jon Woods, R-Springdale, who has helped sponsor legislative hearings on illegal immigration in the state. "We have thousands and thousands who are denied scholarships annually, and they're citizens."
Tags: Blanche Lincoln, illegal aliens, illegal immigrants, Mike Huckabee, student loans, tuition
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