Assemblywoman Marlene Caride (D-Bergen/Passaic) praised the decision by the New Jersey Appellate Court in favor of a U.S. born, New Jersey resident who was denied state financial aid based on her mother’s immigration status. The court ruled last week that the student was indeed eligible for aid, and that the state’s Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESSA) misused the law when it denied her application last year, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the appeal with a Rutgers University legal clinic on her behalf.
Caride introduced legislation in June to address this unjust interpretation of the law, and was pleased that the court decision reinforced the intent of her bill, which is to allow college bound students who are natural-born citizens of the United States and are New Jersey residents to apply for state tuition assistance they would otherwise be ineligible for because of their parents’ immigration status.
“This was a just decision for a very unjust situation. This student had the right like every other young American citizen heading to college to apply for financial assistance, but she was denied. I’m thrilled for her and all others who may have feared their dreams of pursuing a college degree dashed because of HESSA’s unfair, and according to the court, askew interpretation of the law,” said Caride. “These grants were created to help New Jersey students who want to attend college. Punishing a segment of them because of circumstances that should have no bearing on their eligibility merely prevents them from becoming independent, self-sufficient, productive members of our state. I’m glad that the appellate court recognized this injustice and sided with students who were unfairly affected.”
“College tuition costs are exorbitant and are expected to keep rising. Many families depend on federal and state financial aid to afford college for their children,” added Caride. “I’m glad that young people in New Jersey with college aspirations can now rest a little easier, knowing that they will be able to apply for state tuition assistance, based on their own citizenship and residency status. This court decision is a victory for all students, especially the young woman who fought back and won.” TLS.
they are only citizen’s by a mere technicality.
What happens when these college grads leave the USA and go back to their parents country. Who pays off their loans? Oh wait I have the answer, ME. Somehow my tax dollars will be used. Those that have “immigration status” did not help my husband and I put my children through college, why am we responsible to educate their children.
The middle class is forced to pay for everyone else(rich;immigrants;etc.) but themselves
We have already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars educating them through their 12 years of primary education, so why not offer them the financial aid for their college years, however with these monies should come the stipulation that you must work for a mininum of 5 years in the State. Place them on a no fly list, and prohibit them from obtaining a U S passport during those 5 years. Assemblywoman Caride should initiate a law to these effects or similar.
Here are the Democrats giving away money that is not theirs, then they wonder why we don’t support charities, we can’t they took all our money and gave it away for us. Anchor babies should not be given the same rights of those that are here legally!
ummm…. just throwin’ it out there……… why not let the kids stay and deport the parents. maybe they wouldn’t be so anxious to stay under those circumstances.