But from a purely financial standpoint it makes sense to make it possible for them to go to school - they're going to stay in the US anyhow, and staying undocumented means they continue to work at low-wage jobs and use the free resources (emergency health care, food banks, education system for their kids) anyhow. Providing minimal tuition assistance is likely to pay off in terms of 1. getting a new taxpayer (see the part of the article where it says they would pay taxes if they got the tuition benefit), 2. getting someone out of poverty and out of the welfare system (both official Welfare like TANF and WIC, and unofficial welfare like government clinics and such).
It's not just sympathy, it's a good investment. The difference you're likely to make, economically, for a citizen with other options pales in comparison to the economic difference you would make for an immigrant. We're shooting ourselves in the foot by being so fucking xenophobic.
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"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."
- Anatole France
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