We should make sure that every US citizen who wants to go to college can go BEFORE we give scholarships and grants to illegal immigrants. Many, many US citizens are denied their chance to go to college because the costs are prohibitive.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average American's savings may be near .0% of their disposable income. What this means is that in a startling number of households, college is out of reach.

With limited savings, job losses, and the difficult economic times we are in, it makes little sense to give scarce money to people who are illegally in this country when so many people legally in the US cannot afford necessities let alone a college education.

Additionally, the economic downturn and budget crisis have caused many colleges and universities to reduce the number of new applicants and transfers, and many students can't get their classes because of overcrowding. There is a set amount of seats at each college and when any portion of those seats is filled by an illegal immigrant, someone else is displaced. When illegal immigrants receive grants, scholarships, work programs, etc., illegal immigrants are literally stealing an education from US citizens.

It is unfair that illegal immigrant students get the same tuition, as California residents when in reality, illegal immigrants should pay out-of-state tuition. How can you be legal for state purposes and illegal for federal purposes?

Furthermore, since these illegal immigrants are so bright, why don't they go back to their own countries, finish their education, and fight for their rights there. Oh that's right, it wouldn't be free.

These students are American in every possible way save for a piece of paper. It is ludicrous to deny them higher education after having invested in them from K-12. Instead, we should be encouraging them to attend college and pushing for their legalization so that they can better contribute to their country--the United States of America.

Numerous studies on in-state tuition have thoroughly refuted the myths of 'displacement' or any economic devastation--in fact, educating undocumented students always brings more $$$$ into the state coffers since students who would not otherwise attend college, can afford to do so.

Education is not a zero sum game. We need to make college available to everyone. THAT does not mean that we deny undocumented students who have grown up here a chance to attend college. If there are not enough seats, build more schools. An investment in education can never be a loss to any society. I applaud the E4FC for all the work they are doing in trying to ensure that everyone who wants to go to college can do so.

I am highly disappointed that 'illegal' students do not get to show or develop their skills. I am a retired teacher and i find it really sad that students i once thought would become future leaders and politicians are now lowering themselves by giving up their dreams and working in low-wage jobs. My students were amazingly intelligent, not only are these 'illegal' students multilingual....they also catch up very quickly with other subjects if given the right resources. Many times it is us teachers who are forced to ignore them after we see their grades lower; however their grades lower for various reasons, i notice that many of them live in poverty and come from broken homes - yet many of them still try and do not give up during high school. They give up around Junior and Senior year once they realize their college Major will not be able to be used to get a job since they are "illegal". What a waste of talent. Many of these students are artistic as well, naturally artistic. To be here looking at how many waste their talent and potential because of ridicule and oppression saddens me. These students had the chance to become great productive citizens...but it seems we will never give them a chance to sprout and shine because of draconian laws. We are punishing students who were brought here "illegally" without their knowledge. Only to try and escape corruption, poverty and starvation from their country of origin.

From a global competitiveness perspective, we need all the talented students and workers we can get. Why would we not want to keep smart, ambitious people in the US? We need them playing for team USA -- immigrants have always been key to the American spirit of innovation. It would be foolish and short-sighted to deport this talent pool; give them green cards and put them to work!

That's real nice. What about local native students whose parents are so proud of themselves for having made it big without any help that they now feel, their kids should completely make it on their own as well? When I applied for financial aid at 18, I was told my parents owned too much in assets. I asked my parents for money and they flat out said to "get a job." In other countries, I could have sued my parents for an education. We're all messed up here. My last QA job was outsourced to India and the position I applied for was given to someone with better qualities from another country. Thanks!

I wish people were more aware of the many bright, ambitious US citizens who cannot afford to go to college. I do not understand why there is so much help and sympathy for illegal immigrants and so little help and sympathy for US citizens and legal immigrants.

We have spent a ton of money on illegals for their k-12 education. Money and resources we do not have and which are taken away from US citizens. If we enforced our immigration laws, then the k-12 money that is spent on illegals could be used to help improve our k-12 classes or for college grants and scholarships for US citizens.

We should not be using scarce resources on illegals. Furthermore, our schools keep screaming that they do not have enough money, that they need to raise taxes, or they need another parcel tax to keep our schools going. Our colleges and universities are cutting classes and services because they do not have enough money to operate. So why are we giving money we do not have to people who are illegally in the US?

We cannot afford to take on the world’s poor when we have so many US citizens who are poor and in desperate need of help. Why is there so little concern for the plight of struggling US citizens and legal residents?

Let's be clear here - we are not talking about undocumented immigrants in general, only undocumented students who were brought here at a young age by their parents. Blaming these children for coming to the U.S. when they didn't even know what was happening to them is like blaming an infant for being in the shopping cart at the time his mom was shoplifting. These children did not knowingly commit a crime, and all they want is to be productive American citizens.