Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Illegal means that they DO NOT BELONG HERE!! They do not want to take the test to become a citizen of the US then why should they get the same breaks as a citizen?? I am guessing this Senators family will benefit??

ROFL!

....huh? Are you serious? Why not give all ILLEGAL aliens a tax holiday while you're at it? Give them preference to loans to purchase homes of LEGAL residents that could not afford their mortgages because of the economy......

It almost never amazes me to see how low elected officials will stoop to get a few votes (although if illegals are voting in her district, that's probably quite a few). Not only is this bill that Rep. Diaz proposes likely unconstitutional, it is certainly immoral and totally stupid. What she proposes rewards illegal behavior. If that makes sense, then maybe everytime someone does an illegal act (selling illegal drugs, B & E, assault, child molestation, etc.) that person, instead of going to jail, would be rewarded with a Caribbean cruise!

I know RI is controlled by far left leaning liberal Democratic loons, but I think this proposal may be beyond even those people to stomach. But you never know. Just get Patrick Kennedy to show up with some free coffee and donuts, and the gullible voters will likely go along with this insane idea.

Thankfully I like thousands of others, have left RI. Rep. Diaz is just one of many reasons why.

You have got to be kidding. What part of "they do not belong here" do you not understand?

Is she out of her mind?

When is this going to stop?

Unless this is a program to convince illegal aliens to show up in one place and be deported this program is insane. Rep. Diaz does not deserve to represent tax payers of this state if she is willing to propose providing services to people who do not repect our laws. To clear up matters, I am a second generation American. My Grandparents entered the country legally early in the last century.

Would someone ask the good representative if she knows the meaning of "illegal"

We can't afford to provide an education to our own legal residents, who are these elected officials? Better yet, who is voting them into office? Think before you vote.

This must be a joke????? Nobody can be this dumb can they?????

She has got to be kidding. In this economic time when we are cutting benifits, cutting pay, layoffs, reducing services etc. to our own citizens, she wants to increase benifits to illegals. Talk about being out of touch.

Ms. Diaz, what part of ILLEGAL don't you understand? I don't want to attend school with a criminal and I don't want my children to attend school with a criminal. The illegal immrigants should not have entitlement to anything. They should go back to the country they came from and try to enter the US through the proper channels.

This is insane! Let's see, three years at a public high school to qualify. Probably be in Providence, Pawtucket, or Central Falls. At an average cost of $15,000 a year per student (that's conservative!), we are already giving away at least $45,000 BEFORE giving the discount. Stipulation: File a useless affidavit that says they MIGHT apply for citizenship at some point in the future. Are you kidding me? Where is my reward for paying my taxes so my kids can go to school? Let me know what my bonus is going to be for stealing $45,000 from the state. What's next from this fool? Hey, why not give away the foreclosed houses to illegal immigrants provided they "promise" to try and become legal...then we can hire 100 more translators so the civil rights of illegals are not violated. The state is going down hard and she proposes this? Talk about being out of touch. How can she even look at herself in the mirror?

Why are we in this time of financial crisis offering breaks to people that are not RI residents let alone not citizens. If this does go through we deserve to be in crisis that we are in. I am really upset and tired of illegals getting breaks and financial gains by being here illegal.

This state rep Diaz must be anual. Provide tuition to illegal immigrants on a promise to legalize their immigration status. After all this country has been through regarding illegal immigration status, this state rep wants to propose that illegal immigrants be given free tuition. I don't think so.

Nice. We have legal residents unable to afford in-state tuition and our "elected" officals want to allow illegal immigrants the same rights as actually United States Citizens and the legal Citizen's of Rhode Island. If they have filed their paperwork, they should have a reciept. Show the reciepts and then we can talk.

at what point will this stop we'er in a budget crunch, these people want more. they don,t deserve what they'got now .when these people realize they have NO rights

I'm not in favor of this bill for the following reasons:
I think this bill is a stepping stone to future adult illegal immigrants that may receive in-state tuition and other benefits in the future. I am not a fan of providing benefits to those who don't contribute to society.
Although an education may provide the high school students a way to be productive citizens, it doesn't change their citizenship status. Who is going to hire an illegal citizen with E-Verify? This bill only provides a future roadblock to these students.
Illegal immigrants broke the law. However, I don't believe children willingly and knowingly broke it -- their custodians did. Either way, breaking the law shouldn't be rewarded with benefits.
Instead of complaining and opinions, I suggest an alternative solution: Instead of producing a bill that is unethical and probably due to political self interest, create a program collectively between the state and the school system to provide students the process for getting their citizenship prior to graduation. Provide students with the tools to succeed, not an immediate band-aid that falls off in the future. This would not only automatically provide in-state tuition for graduating students, but also provide them the knowledge to influence friends and family to also get their citizenship. In the end, it would provide more legal and productive community members, and potentially reduce the illegal problem.

I think Rep. Diaz should fund anything for ILLEGAL immigrants herself and stop giving away MY money. ALL of OUR representatives in the General Assembly (House/Senate) should be looking to lower spending to lower taxes, nevermind looking to spend more. People, pay attention and vote these people out!

That article is fake right??? No seriously?? Did she not see Carceiri's proposals to crack down on illegal immigration?? E-verify. How about if they pass e-verify then they get to apply to schools. ILLEGAL drug use, ILLEGAL prostitution, ILLEGAL robbery, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. Why don't these people get the message. Something tells me she has some "friends" who would benefit from this....who elected this nut?

I say do it and when they go to school, arrest them and deport them..kind of like a round up.

I Rep. Crackdown propose a system where illegal immigrants are rounded up and brought to Mexico and dropped off....put this into law quickly!

Bob - did you read the article? It says in-state tuition, not free tuition.

Kat - where does it say the proposal benefits non-RI residents? Legal or not, these are RI residents.

Diaz has got to be the biggest idiot that has walked through the front door of the state house so far.

illegal is illegal when will these people on the hill get the message.people born in the state and ARE citizens have less rights than these people let them go back where where they came from, and apply to enter this country, like other people have to.

What part of the oath of office that Grace took did she not understand. She did swear that she would provide "faithful performance of the duties of the office and the support of the constitution and laws of the state and the United States"

The laws of the US provide for deportation of illegal aliens not for financial windfalls. How about if I promise that I plan to file my taxes. Is that good enough for her?

illegal alien 
–noun 1. a foreigner who has entered or resides in a country unlawfully or without the country’s authorization.
2. a foreigner who enters the U.S. without an entry or immigrant visa, esp. a person who crosses the border by avoiding inspection or who overstays the period of time allowed as a visitor, tourist, or businessperson. Compare resident alien.
Also called illegal immigrant.
Yes Ms Diaz, and what else can we do for them…my wallet is wide open for them and you!!
WHO VOTED THIS IDIOT IN?

This is unbelievable--what else is next they already get--free food, heat, free rent!!! Not to mention free bus passes, free breakfast and lunch at school--
What about those of us, who work everyday and pay taxes-oh I forgot we work to pay for them!

illegal means they are not legal, not under the law to reside here. Please get rid of them as they are sucking the life out of the infrastructure of America!!!

You've got to be kidding. LEGAL residents already pay for many illegals public schooling and health care. If someone wants the benefit of a college education they should at least be in this country legally. Rep Diaz: in case you didn't know, we are in a recession. Many children can't afford to go to college who are legal residents. Help them more first!! A promise to change their status...they already lied once when accepting work, school, medical and tried to pass as legal. I don't care what country you're from. Nowhere but the US do they offer criminals of all kinds free services. I don't care if you shoot someone or are in the country illegally YOU ARE A CRIMINAL. WAKE UP REP DIAZ!!!

How about if we provide them with this under one condition...they first perform three years of honorable military service in some branch of the U.S. military. It can either be active component, reserve component or National Guard.

OOPS! There I go being logical again.

Call Diaz's office....Seriously.

This idea should get the economy back on track...lmao!

I say, instead of thess idiot reps creating new laws, why don't they in their time off (only a part-time GA) and time sitting of the hill, read the laws that are already on the books. Read them carefully and learn them. When they are done with that, read and re-read the CONSTITUTION of this state and the CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. These people are not welcomed here, are not here legally, and don't deserve any of the RIGHTS and privleges given to LEGAL CITIZENS.

Did I miss something...they are "Illegal". So know we are supporting illiegal activity. Definition - "prohibited by law; against the law; unlawful; illicit; also, not authorized or sanctioned, as by rules"

What's next

Illegal immigrants still pay sales tax, property tax, gasoline tax, motor vehicle registration, even income tax. The ones who work under false SSNs are paying into social programs that they'll never be able to collect. People seem to forget this all too easily.

Time to have ICE and INS checking for green cards at the high schools and RI colleges and the voting roles in Rep. Diaz's district. Rhode Islanders who are paying the freight for all of this schooling should not allow such a blatant disregard for citizenship. Even if the economy was not in the tank, such a law flys in the face of US Citizenship. If they got here legally, than we welcome them with open arms. If not, send them back. Perhaps

Let's see if I've got this right...The illegals are here ILLEGALLY, right ?!? And most don't even bother to learn our language, isn't that right too ?!? So now on top of the free food, free rent, free medical AND free money, not to mention all the jobs these people are stealing from the UNITED STATES CITIZENS, now you're telling me that we have to give them discounted tuition to our colleges - this goes beyond ridiculous - They all need to be deported as far as I'm concerned...My daughter attends a local college, as do a lot of her friends, and I completely disagree with this proposal...

I don't sense over whelming support for this bill from the legal residents of the state. Keep in mind that this law maker, is not from Little Compton.

What is this state coming to. If you are illegeal you should get the heck out of here. And someone is trying to promote them to stay, oh wait your must be an illgeal citizen also. I am not paying for them to go to school with my tax money. No one paid for me and I am a US CITIZEN. I went to school paid my way and have a great job. This is the same way they should get a degree, not no freebies. SHIP 'EM OUT!!!

While so many of our American student cannot afford tuition, is it fair to allow a tax break for illegals? I do NOT think so. Now have these people apply for citizenship, learn English and have alligiance to the USA, then it might be a different story. I see so many wonderful kids in school where they are not learning English, don't want to and only consider the country where they came from home. That makes it very difficult for me to want to give tuition breaks to illegals. Especially when we are in such difficult financial times. I respect much of the work Rep Diaz does but this is tooooo far!

If we don't allow legal citizens with criminal charges to attend our schools, WHY should we allow illegal immigrants to attend our schools?? Especially at the same tuition rate that legal state residents pay.

I find this idea to be completely ridiculous

Is she out of her mind!!!

Is there someone on Capitol HIll with enough guts to move to impeach this whack job, Rep. Diaz?

An illegal may LIVE here...but they are not a "resident". State Residency is a legal status which presumes a legal status under federal law. If they are Illegal they are not Residents. Period.

Its like being in a bank and thereby assuming that you have a right to all the money just because you are there. You only have a right to that which is legally yours.

Are you out of yourt mind Ms.Diaz, we already have given these people a break. don't you get it they have sucked the blood out of our cities and towns by attending the public schools and more with police and fire calls. I paid for my own education in college by working two or three different jobs!!!! Stop the gravy train up at the state house, look at the news. The middle class cannot afford any more of your give aways to people who don't work for it!

When legal citizens are having a struggle to send their children to a state college there is no way I want to see ILLEGAL ALIENS getting free tuition.
Ms Diaz corrected her status in order to start a daycare business and run for office and now promote citizens rights for those who did not come her legally. Almost everyone in this country descended from immigrants, many well before any immigration laws. Perhaps Ms Diaz can have the bishop pay the tuition for the illegal immigrants.

Ugh. Perhaps Ms. Dias is unaware that we have a declining aconomy....that the state, as well as most of the cities, are very much in debt! Duh.

I'm wondering where all these commenters are when it's time to throw the bums out. This year saw Democrats like Rep. Diaz make even MORE gains in the RI Legistlature.

The problem with places like RI is people always think, "Well, MY guy is ok- it's all those other people that need to get voted out."

Wrong. That kind of mentality is how people like Murphy and Alves wind up running the state into the ground for 20 years.

If there are enough idiots in the GA that are looking to prostitute themselves for a few votes next election and pass this bill, the challenge should come from a student of another state. The bill would be discriminatory in that a resident from Massachusetts would pay more then an illegal alien living in RI. I would be tweaked beyond belief I was paying more for my child's education then an illegal alien.
Stop this reverse perverse discrimination - somehow this Rep has declared war on all legal residents of RI and denigrated you, me and every single taxpaying resident of RI. To the voters of the district she represents - NICE JOB! Got anyone else you want to vote in? Hugo Chavez busy?

YOU ARE JUST KIDDING, RIGHT??????????

Will the last one out of Rhodyland please turn off the lights?

Thank you.

This is ridiculous and must be stopped. Please join me and email Joseph McNamara, the chair of the House Committee that this has been referred to and express your disapproval. His email address is rep-mcnamara@rilin.state.ri.us

OK seriously we are going to let them go to college and we will end up paying for it! we (the taxpayers) pay now anyways for the baby's momma who is on welfare and says he is not in this country when he is living with her! getting state aid and food stamps that should be going to OUR NEEDY CHILDREN!!! this is the most stupid thing I have ever heard in my life. I as a taxpayer would love to go to college and continue my education, however I can not afford it!! must be nice to sit on your A$$ all day and sit back and collect money when you are here in the USA illegally... crazy nosense!!!

BRAVO!!!!!
It's a trick to get the illegals out into the open. ICE will then give them their papers - deportation papers.

I noticed how this article set everyone on fire. Illegal immigration is a huge problem in the US. Rhode Island is a state packed full of legal immigrants. I can't see where anyone would have an argument to remove undocumented aliens out of the country.
To address the in state tuition matter like many others have stated how are illegal aliens attending our high schools in the first place. It is just incredible that this representative even got her proposal to the floor or printed in the newspaper.

Reps Diaz, Almieda & Slater, go buy yourselves an ENGLISH dictionary and look up the word "ILLEGAL"!
Robbery is ILLEGAL!
Breaking and entering is ILLEGAL!
Stealing is ILLEGAL!
Reps, please STOP promoting all of the above for ILLEGAL Aliens! They do not belong here!
How about they go through the process of becoming LEGAL before they want all the handout and freebies YOU want to steal from the legal citizens and taxpayers of Rhode Island.
And PLEASE stop callin these ILLEGAL aliens, immigrants! You are insulting my grandparents and my wifes parents.

Grace Dias is wasting the time and money of the citizens of Rhode Island. It is elected officials like her that are the reason Rhode Island is in the situation she is.

Illegal aliens are not permitted to be in the United States, let alone be allowed to participate in using our State's social resources. Unfortunate system and situation for these people, but it is still the law and a law and policy that the World is aware of.

While I am sure that Dias has only pure motives in mind and is not kow-towing to garner votes or other political advantages, I find it offensive that during a time of national recession she is devoting her time, energy and resources to champion an effort that does not further the interests of the people of Rhode Island.

And from reading between the lines, it seems like she has an ego so big that it will take her to be unseated before she realizes that her efforts are misguided.

If it wasn't so pathetic, it would actually be laughable. Tells you all you need to know about the Democrats. When the state is broke Diaz wants people who don't even bekong in the USA educated at the taxpayer's exspence. Brilliant!!

You have gotta be kidding me! First of all, how do these illegal immigrants get into the school system in the first place? Don't we have some sort of check and balance to see where our education dollars are being spent? So how do they graduate from high school in Rhode Island? This state is a fiscal nightmare. We are cutting finding to education and that is translating to a less solid education for our students. Wouldn't tossing the illegal immigrants from the school system accomplish the same thing? The illegals do not want to become citizens because thay can get free stuff from the US and their country at the same time. They do not want to give up the citizenship to their native country because they have the best of both worlds. I would like to see what would happen if a US citizen went to Cuba, Mexico, or anywhere else illegally. They would end up being deported. No other country would stand for this type of injustice. We are so afraid of offending someone. Big deal! They are laughing in our faces.

We have som many citizens who cannot afford college and she is trying to give the illegals a free ride. I'm sorry, but the bus must stop here. We have been silent on this issue way too long.

Hate, is an ugly thing. We are surounded by latin american countries. Ask you self do you hate hispanics or all immigrants including the irish ect... The word illigal is used when correct term is undocumented WORKERS. The undocumented are here because there is WORK. Hate is aways evil and in Amercia always leads to more rights for the people you hate. READ American HISTORY instead of your NAZI dictionary!

You antis are the saddest bunch of people in the world.

If a kid is graduating high school in the US, chances are they were under 18 when they were brought here. US law does not consider them adults, so why punish them for the actions of their parents?

A college-educated immigrant is less likely to turn to crime; less likely to wind up in prison; more likely to get a high-paying job; and more likely to contribute positively to society through their professional skill and their taxes.

Why would we not want that? Why would we prefer to relegate these people to a permanent underclass?

America is built on the idea that every person should live up to their full potential. We cannot use the law to create an underclass. Last time legislation was used to force people into an underclass we called it racism and Jim Crow. What you antis are supporting today is no different. We've just replaced race with immigration status.

As someone who works with high school students, I know many undocumented students that speak perfect English, are completely assimilated and are academically very talented. Aside from their immigration status, they are in every way as American as their classmates. They often do not even know anyone in their country of origin anymore. We should not hold these students back from getting an education and making a contribution to this country that they love and consider home. Please support in state tuition!

Alice - We are surrounded by latin american countries? You must have been taught geography in RI. Do you consider Canada or the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans latin american countries? And I do not hate any immigrants. I dislike illegal aliens. If they are here legally, then they have documents, whether its a green card, work permit or educational visa. If they don't have dovuments then they are here Illegaly. And Citizene Cone, a college educated illegal is not less likely to turn to crime unless he becomes...here it is...LEGAL. Because if he doesn't become legal then he is working under a fake SSN and comitting more crime. We are not trying to create an underclass with law, we are trying to remove individuals who are here illegaly. Using your logic, the government is making me an underclass because it won't let me perform surgery just because I don't have a license to practice medicine. I am really an undocumented doctor.

Clearly none of you understand what this is about. Students should be given the opportunity to pay in state tutuion for their schooling if they can prove that they live in RI. The money for tuition will come out of their pockets becuase given their status they ARE NOT eligible for loans or grants, therefore, this will increase revenue for the colleges and the state. People educate yourselves. Do not make idiotic remarks on subjects you do not understand, No one is asking for a free ride here, simply the opportunity.

Here we have another ethnic tribalist trying to give "her people" advantages Americans can't have.
To offer in state tuition to anyone illegally in the country without also offering the same rates to out of state students is ILLEGAL according to the 1996 Immigration and Control Act. This case is working it's way through several states and these laws have been struck down as uncontitutional. But no matter to this ethnic hustler, she like many like her believes laws are for other people, not them.

Add to this the 10% unemployment rate for Rhode Island, 2nd highest in the nation along with myopic federal immigration policies that are bringing in 130,000 NEW workers every MONTH to compete against your job and one may conclude the age of insanity is upon us.

Analyst Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation has just released an estimate that the stimulus bill on the Senate floor would provide construction jobs to roughly 300,000 illegal aliens. (UNLESS E-VERIFY ADDED PERMANENTLY)

While hundreds of thousands of American construction workers are unemployed, businesses across America continue to employ illegal aliens and will be allowed to use Stimulus money to hire hundreds of thousands more illegal alien

The Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, ACLU, La Raza are lobbying the Senate to ensure that businesses can use Stimulus money to hire illegal aliens. many more anti-sovereignty groups are out to derail the E-Verify program.

Millions of Americans are unemployed, we have no need for foreign nationals to feed, clothe, house, educate and offer free health care too. We need no more slave labor, gang members, and criminal aliens.

IT is a fact that America settles roughly 3 million legal immigrants annually, seems to have been forgotten by the national press.

Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
To find your Senator: http://www.senate.gov/
To find the Representative: http://www.house.gov/

More ugly truths, not lies found at www.judicialwatch.org, www.numbersusa.com and www.americanpatrol.com

I posted my comment here a few days ago, but since I did NOT tow the rightwing Republican anti-immigrant racist Xenophobe line, it was obvious that my "opinion" did NOT coincide with most of the anti-Grace Diaz hysteria lies, so it was CENSORED!

RIGHT ON REP. GRACE DIAZ! YOU KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING! LA RAZA IS ON YOUR SIDE 100%!

Why are these kids even in our public high schools? We are paying taxes so illegals can get an education at our expense? Do laws mean anything anymore?