The blue state of Minnesota is now providing illegal immigrants with free college tuition at the expense of American taxpayer money.
The state recently approved its “North Star Promise” program, which offers free college tuition to all residents whose families earn less than $80,000 annually, regardless of their immigration status.
Minnesota will soon begin offering state taxpayer-funded college and university tuition to illegal aliens from families earning less than $80,000 annually, at no cost to them. https://t.co/Nct1qxBERk
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) June 6, 2023
“We’ve been seeing declining enrollment on all campuses,” said Democratic Senate Higher Education Committee chair Omar Fateh. “If we don’t do something quick, we’re at risk of shutting down some campuses… I see this bill as an enrollment driver.”
The program’s eligibility requirements, however, are causing disagreement among Minnesotans. In order to qualify, students need to graduate from a state high school, reside in the state for at least 12 months without being enrolled in college more than half-time, and maintain good academic standing.
Many Republicans pointed out that the $80,000 maximum is unfair to young adults whose parents may be working several jobs but could still utilize financial aid. Other critics noted that “nothing in life is free,” and therefore tax payers will be the ones footing the bill.
Rep. Marion O’Neill, the only Republican on the Senate Higher Education Committee, said that she was “completely frozen out of all discussions.”
The “North Star Promise” program aims to provide financial assistance to these students beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year. The scholarships will cover the full cost of tuition and fees after subtracting grants and other scholarships.
Similarly, a county in Texas is also calling for illegal immigrants to receive universal basic income despite the state already hemorrhaging resources thanks to the Biden administration’s southern border crisis.
Harris County’s “Uplift Harris” pilot program would allocate $20.5 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds to pay out $500 monthly to around 1,500 families for 18 months.
This comes after the Biden administration lifted “Title 42” last month, increasing the number of illegal border crossers to an all-time high. According to the Department of Homeland Security, nearly 2.4 million migrants were detained at the border for the fiscal year ending in September, surpassing the already-historic number of 1.7 million migrant detainees in 2021.
