Karla Reséndiz was able to attend UT-Austin because she paid in-state tuition rates — even though she is the child of illegal immigrants. Now, Reséndiz and others like her find themselves engulfed in the latest political skirmish over immigration to roil the Republican candidates for president.
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Comments (68)
Jamie Middlebrook via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Hard work and test scores don't determine your in-state or out of state status.
Ana Manciaz via Texas Tribune on Facebook
where did it go? "this video has been removed by the user."
Maricela Gonzalez Rios via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Well said!
Jose B. Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I agree with Jamie... However, Texas LAW states that undocumented children who have lived in Texas for the last 3 years and graduated from a Texas HS ARE eligible for in stayed tuition. This ISN'T an opinion, its a fact, its a Texas LAW... Right or wrong - its a LAW... If today that law is unpopular - change it... But until its changed - its still the law. Like it or not..
Crystal Ann Jaynes via Texas Tribune on Facebook
She paid her tuition and it is not her fault that she is the child of illegal immigrants. How long has she been here is the question. If she has been here all along and has earned her grades and paid her tuition then let her be. ( Yes, apparently the video is removed)
Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I agree with Karla!
Julian Aguilar via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Sorry about that glitch, folks. We're working on fixing the problem. If you click on the story below, the video is also in the body of the text.
Jose B. Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Ms. Resendiz is a perfect example of a child who through no fault of her own was brought to the USA. Her grades and SAT scores were high enough to get into UT. Her grade school & at least part of her university education was funded by tax payers. A person this highly educated in a field that is experiencing manpower shortages throughout the country should have an avenue/path to gain a work visa which one day could turn into a permanent resident card and ultimately one day possibly become a USA citizen... Imagine how much more $$$ she could pay towards federal taxes, property taxes and sales taxes if she could come out of the shadows, obtain a job in her profession and become a productive member of our society. I for one would like go see her working as a Pharmacist ASAP so that she can begin to pay her fair share into the piggy bank, that helped her become an educated woman...
Jill Meredith Bergene via Texas Tribune on Facebook
And exactly who gets hurt by her paying in state tuition? Not Jamie, that's for sure. But, bitching about this kind of stuff seems to be a popular past-time here in Tex-Ass. Funny, because I've noticed that a lot of Mexicans, likely illegal, do all the grunt work here.
Crystal Ann Jaynes via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I think we have to question whether it is fair to punish the child because of the parent. Is it right to deny students like Karla an education based on her parts citizenship? She is not asking for a handout, she has worked for it just like mine have. She is paying as well and who knows what she can accomplish with the education. But we do know that with out the education she could look forward to living in or on the borderline of poverty. Without education the chances of finding a job that supports not only a single person but a family as well, becomes closer to impossible. So we can look at it like this. She is not lazy, she has worked for her grades and is paying her way. There are many out there whose parents are legal and they have no gumption to even try. So why would we penalize someone who is doing her best to be a productive person. Look at it like this, if we deny her the education that will allow her to support her self, will it help or hurt. Well looking at it down the road no education means poverty,welfare programs. These come out of our pockets so if she is working then she is helping.
Wendy Melton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
They are the invisible people. Most TEX-ASSes want to exploit their labor, but then want them to disappear. The biggest reason Perry supported this is because of his crony friend Bob Perry, the homebuilder. He wants to continue having cheap labor come from Mexico to work as laborers. If their kids can't get an education, then they have no reason to come.
Stanley Moore via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I have a story as well. Not making light of hers. However--My son was born, and grew up in Texas. Graduated High School in Texas. He left the state for two years out of his 25. He decided to go to College upon his return Home. Guess what?--he had to pay out of state tuition. That's wrong. He has to pay out of state and these folks don't. I don't begrudge them, I just think there is a problem.
Chris Thornton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Not undocumented. ILLEGAL. Calling someone that comes to America illegally "undocumented" makes it sound like "Oops I forgot to get my documents". Also, no illegal alien has earned ANY rights to anything, except a jail cell and a one-way ticket back to their country of origin. Illegals should not be allowed into ANY taxpayer funded schools. Period. Texas should make sure ALL students are here legally before allowing them to enroll in school.
Benjamin Collins via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What's really infuriating is when media like the Tribune pass uncritically the charge that people are "attacking" illegals themselves when opposing policies from which they benefit. Take a position and defend it, but don't play innocent while setting up straw men and creating unnecessary divisions between people who want to live together in peace.
Chris Thornton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Go to Mexico illegally and find out what happens. Two years in prison for the first offense. No ifs, ands, or butts. Two years in a Mexican jail.
Benjamin Collins via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Someone ought to gracefully point out to this young woman that people opposed to the in-state tuition policy aren't attacking her or "them", and remind her that people can have honest disagreements about public policy that don't involve racial attitudes or personal vendettas.
Russell Stone via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I stand with Karla Reséndiz.
Crystal Ann Jaynes via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Ok so I went back and was able to now view the video and the sad thing is that these people came to work here legally but because of 9/11 the process of becoming a citizen came to a near stand still and has just recently started again. In the mean time students like Karla who have worked hard have fall into bureaucratic cracks in the system. She has the training but cannot get the job until everything gets through the red tape of the government. That makes no sense. She can prove she went to school here and graduated top of her class yet she is being denied a job that she is trained for because of bureaucratic red tape. She is not the problem it is the government that says on one hand you can get the education but without the proper paper work, (even if it is the governments fault that it is not there), you cannot get the job that not only did you train for but are highly qualified for as well. So we need to tell Texas Government Officials that this problem has been going on for to long and to get off their Texas butts and fix it!
Curtis McMinn via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Really? It seems to me that part of this is driven by SOME personal attacks and vendettas. We can't figure out why we don't have jobs...oh I know! It's the gays. It's the illegal aliens. I can't really entertain an idea related to immigration when I don't see widespread protest and demands to combat substance abuse and gang activity.
Tim Collins via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Serious question, given she knew her status and the impact it would have on practicing pharmacy - what was she thinking?
Martin Borden via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Please give us all your money, keys to your car, house, all your computer passwords. What, that's not LEGAL? Oh, I didn't think LEGAL was a big deal!
Chris Thornton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The fact that she is here ILLEGALLY, i.e. BREAKING THE LAW, negates her "hard work" and her grades, SAT scores, etc. The only thing she has a right to is the right to go back to her native country and then LEGALLY obtain permission to enter our country.
Sergio Hernandez De Santos via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I guess I'm just have to keep having anchor babies you jealous, envious 2 faced tea baggers
Jose B. Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Here's the problem with some peoples argument... Texas LAW states that undocumented children who have lived in Texas for the last 3 years and graduated from a Texas HS ARE eligible for in state tuition. This ISN'T an opinion, its a fact, its a Texas LAW... Right or wrong - its a LAW... If today that law is unpopular - change it... But until its changed - its still the law. Like it or not..
Sergio Hernandez De Santos via Texas Tribune on Facebook
You don't want her to be a pharmacist? But I bet YOU want her parents to work very cheaply for you
I stand with Karla Resendiz
Jose B. Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Ms. Resendiz is a perfect example of a child who through no fault of her own was brought to the USA. Her grades and SAT scores were high enough to get into UT. Her grade school & at least part of her university education was funded by tax payers. A person this highly educated in a field that is experiencing manpower shortages throughout the country should have an avenue/path to gain a work visa which one day could turn into a permanent resident card and ultimately one day possibly become a USA citizen... Imagine how much more $$$ she could pay towards federal taxes, property taxes and sales taxes if she could come out of the shadows, obtain a job in her profession and become a productive member of our society. I for one would like go see her working as a Pharmacist ASAP so that she can begin to pay her fair share into the piggy bank, that helped her become an educated woman...
Martin Borden via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The law is the law...and if that IS the law, then,yes, it is the rule.
Peter Notarianni via Texas Tribune on Facebook
i dont care ILLEGAL IS ILLEGAL !
Richard Tew via Texas Tribune on Facebook
i don't care about how well you do in school or that you are not a part of MS13, you--like all the others--have broken our federal laws; any other country would inprison you. you take advantage of the compasionate in our country and get them to take your side. you are a criminal, nothing more.
Sergio Hernandez De Santos via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I know if she was a inmigrant from Europe you wouldn't object, what part of THRU NO FAULT OF HER OWN don't you get?
Diego Medrano via Texas Tribune on Facebook
wow... I bet all of the comments above are from good people, but have u ever thought, maybe just wondering a little bit, that u may be wrong? all the talk, all the blames, on students? ON KIDS! wth? they didnt make the law, neither influenced what is wrong in yals lifes. they have no power... they are just kids trying to be better, if something we should be proud that they are not the ganster stealing ur house or getting drugged behind a dumpster. the world is fucked up (excuse the language) n what do we do? blame somebody... anybody. that is wrong!
why dnt yal look in ur life and see what are u doing to make this world better instead? give me solutions, n taking illegals out has NOT helped, neither taggin people (that was a NAZI thing). Our nation is kind n we believe in Gods teachings. Thats not going to change and Im proud of America for that. so what else can we do? what else, that can make our great nation even greater? We are America n we need to use our brains again. what can we do? stop the blame n get me some real American values based solution. leave ur hate out please.
Jill Meredith Bergene via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Illegal is like all things: Arbitrary and Impermanent. For years, women couldn't vote: Illegal. Blacks couldn't eat in white establishments: Illegal. Legality does not equal morality, but so far, it's legal to be close minded and refuse to grant others respect and decency.
Cheryl Walker via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Maybe you can Learn what the definition of ILLEGAL ALIEN MEANS!!!!!!
Diego Medrano via Texas Tribune on Facebook
yah, thanks, Im so proud of you my fellow... n then dont cry when ur job is taking by someone with a brain elsewhere in the world.
Cheryl Walker via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Quit using the term UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT AND START USING PROTECTED CLASS OF CITIZEN!!!! if I did what this girl is doing in her country of origin I would be in JAIL. using someone else's social security number is against the law. I would be in jail in this country for identity THEFT!!!!
Dale H Curry via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Thank you Cheryl Walker for demonstrating so very clearly the bigotry and hatred that is the hallmark of the t-party and other later day dixiecrats. you are a very sad person.
Diego Medrano via Texas Tribune on Facebook
ok, sorry, but, I seriously would like solutions, not hate, nor what if's. we are in America n we are civilized. thanks.
Lisa Ahrlett via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It's not bigotry or hatred at all. Why it's that all you people can come up with? An illegal alien is here illegally. Surely you wouldn't want someone using your ssn to lie, break the law and take advantage of our system. I don't care what race, color or ethnicity
Jose B. Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Jill - you make a very GOOD point...
Erin Anderson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Karla may believe she has "earned a rightful place" at UT, but she has NOT "earned" a rightful place in this country. Become a LEGAL resident first! And Jill, you could not be MORE wrong (you really believe that ALL things are arbitrary and impermanent??) - the Rule of Law prevents arbitrary application of the rules to some but not others. And since when does "respect" equal "taxpayer-subsidized college tuition"?
Dustin Romero via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Calling some one a racist is all people can do when they can not win the argument on thet facts. I don't care where you come from illegal. Is illegal regardless of skin color. They have been doing it for as long as I have been alive. But last time I checked it was liberal policies and programs that separate people and keep them poor.
David Edmonson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
LOUD NOISES!
Stanley Moore via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Rick Perry is a liberal? What liberal in Texas passed a law. What are you smoking
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Civil not criminal.
Jose B. Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Erin missed the whole point of what Jill was saying... Point is - just because its illegal today and maybe even popular doesn't mean its right nor moral... She mentioned examples of laws that at one time were seen as normal, righteous and moral - however as the years passed we realized the mistakes of our ways... This too will one day be looked at and history will judge us - we've learned so little from our own history, we keep making the same mistakes...
Cristi Parker via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Go Karla!
Cristi Parker via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Illegal is a lie, people. Unauthorized entry is a civil, not criminal, matter. What is it they say about drinking Kool Aid? Educate yourselves.
Cristi Parker via Texas Tribune on Facebook
If your entire opinion on this complex subject can be expressed by typing "illegal" in all caps, your argument is invalid. Educate yourself and try again. Illegal is a lie.
Sergio Hernandez De Santos via Texas Tribune on Facebook
All these people want is Pedro to mow their lawns Maria to clean their houses but are scare s/@tless that Pedro and Maria's kids are gonna be their kids' bosses
Stanley Moore via Texas Tribune on Facebook
No, Hector mows my lawn. Can't afford Maria.
Diego Medrano via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Thanks for proving my point fellows. Nothing but blames and nonsense arguments. Fact is Illigal=unducomented=unauthorized. YEs thye break the law, ok, what else you want. THe police and our army is busy trying to catch terrorist, they have no time to put HEctor who is mowing a fellow's lawn. WHy would they bother, they are just working, and things of higher priority.
Diego Medrano via Texas Tribune on Facebook
NOw, what solution do you offer?? A real non-blame non-offensive solution people... stop the name calling, i feel like in my little brothers kindergarden class...
Crutherton Fornsby via Texas Tribune on Facebook
NAFTA, poor people in Latin America, land-ownership laws or policies that go back centuries, and the need to make money in currency markets and so therefore cause another country to devalue theirs so that the drug trade can make up the difference, and less exports can be bought in said country from ours.
Gabriel Shans
I cannot feel sorry for this woman. She and her family are in this country illegally. She admits on camera that her family knowingly broke the law instead of going back to their country when their visas expired.
I do not believe that anyone in this situation should receive our sympathy or understanding. In the future, I would be willing to see citizenship granted to people, like this woman, who achieve a post-graduate degree or who serve in the US military, but I cannot in good conscience agree with giving anyone who gets a G.E.D. or high school diploma citizenship simply for that accomplishment.
This woman, as it stands now, has no chance to legally work in her chosen field in this country. Her education and training would probably serve her well in her home country. It might not seem fair to this woman, who has been here since she was 12, to have to return to a country she does not see as home, but her options would most likely expand more there than here. I imagine it would also be easier for her to gain a new visa if, once back in her home country, she reapplied as a Pharm.D. graduate with a few years work experience in her field.
Rubia Valente
If someone is in "limbo" and leaves the US, s/he will not be able to get a F-1 visa or any other visa so easily as some of you suggest.
"Limbo" is when you enter the US in a visa, such as H-4 (dependent of worker) and when the sponsor (worker) applies for a green card or for renewal, the immigration department either denies it and you appeal and it goes to court (which can take forever) or they say that they have accepted everything and for you to wait (which can also take forever).
The problem is that Immigration is years behind in the cases that they are reviewing and the case of her family has not been examined yet.
If a student in "limbo" leaves and goes to their homecountry to try to get a visa, it may be denied, b/c immigration officers can deny visas for whatever reason they see fit, and being in "limbo" is technically being on an "illegal" stage, and that can be an excuse for them to deny it.
If her visa is denied, she may not see her family again for a long time.
It's easy to say, " just get your admission letter and go to the U.S. embassy and get yourself a visa."
It's not so easy in practice.I know of several cases that people did just that and had their visas denied.
Besides, she entered the US on a visa. What failed her was the US immigration system, that failed to renew her status in a speedy way. She is not a criminal, since unauthorized entrance or stay, is a civil, not criminal matter.
Another important point: In order to get a F-1 visa (a student visa), you must prove that you have on a checking account about $49,520 in dollars for UTAustin (which is to cover your expenses and tuition). Now, most people, even upper middle class Americans, don't have that amount just sitting around.
Besides that, as an F-1 student there is no guarantee that a foreigner student will get a job that will sponsor them for a green card in the future. So, as you can see, it is not so easy. If it were that easy, I guarantee that a lot of people would have done that.
No one wants to be in this situation, and I bet that if there was anything that they could do that would GUARANTEE that they would stay in the US legally, they would do it.
Most undocumented immigrants are afraid of being sent back and losing the chance to come back, and being away from their families.
One last thing, undocumented immigrants are also providing education for themselves.
They pay taxes.
It may be a surprise to most people, but not only Americans pay taxes.
You are not paying for it yourselves, everybody is, including undocumented immigrants.
People are not breaking the law, the law is broken.
The law today does not provide a path to citizenship so easily as most Americans would like to think.
So inform yourselves before giving an opinion.....or better yet, send the 12 million undocumented immigrants back to their countries, and watch the US economy collapse for good.
Peace.
Sergio Hernandez De Santos via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Why don't we do what Ronald Reagan did: Amnesty for those who qualify!
Dave Mundy via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Solution, Diego: the countries of origin pay for of all the social services these hard-working, kind, law-abiding "undocumented" people are leeching off the taxpayers. It's fair and it's common sense, and no name-calling. I figure Mexico owes us their oil rights for about six decades.
Dave Mundy via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Sergio: How many people took advantage of Ronald Reagan's amnesties (there were two)? Less than 10 percent of those eligible. These people don't care about becoming American citizens.
Dave Mundy via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Cristi: If it's a "civil" matter, are you saying we should sue all the illegals?
Dave Mundy via Texas Tribune on Facebook
For Karla and every other "undocumented" person: how difficult would it be to go down to a US Immigration Office and say, "I am not properly documented, I would like to apply for U.S. citizenship." The point of fact is that none of them do that.
Sergio Hernandez De Santos via Texas Tribune on Facebook
David when Mexico nationalized their oil it PAID american and british companies (but that's not relevant here) I brought up Reagan because He's a conservative icon and he knew that there's no worst waste than talent waste, I agree with people saying inmigrant should learn english, become citizens but historycally ethnic groups have always acted the same (chinese, italians, etc)
Richard Tew via Texas Tribune on Facebook
sergio, you are a racist.
Rip Ford
So, now she's an illegal alien with a university degree. Big whoop. She still can't work here legally.
Adios, amiga. Employment in your home country awaits you, courtesy of Texas taxpayers.
judy burns
Lots of comments to get through here, but I hope people will realize that this particular young woman did NOT enter the country illegally. She entered on a Visa which later expired. The renewal process was complicated by 9-11. And no, she cannot just go to the immigration office and "apply for citizenship"-we (US) have made that much more complicated. It is a catch 22 for someone like her, who would like to be a citizen and could not doubt pass the citizenship test. If she attempts it, though, she is just as likely to be deported as tested for citizenship.
David Spratt
She says as long as someone from another state has lived in Texas for three years they too can get instate tuition. She says you are not a resident of Texas " I AM." Right you are , but you are not LEGALLY a resident of Texas or the United States. It is not a question of how nice or good a person you are , it is simply a question of law. A lot of people that commit a variety of other crimes are " Nice people: other than their criminal activities. That still does not excuse them. Emotions should play no role here. Many criminals tear up when begging for leniency. Take your degree and go back to your country. Now you are expecting us to ignore your status and allow you to obtain a license to work, again in violation of the law. Several billion people around the world want the very same thing you do. You were just lucky enough to have actually made it here and remained under the radar and not to have been deported and have escaped having the law applied . How many rules, regulations and laws do you expect we should bend or ignore , just because you think we should? Consider yourself fortunate to have gotten away with it for as long as you have. You are not that special , only one of hundreds of millions that feel they too are entitled if only they also could make it here and avoid following the rules.
gypsy314 ne
This is what wrong with America know one knows what illegal means. I'm sorry but she and her parents should have been deport way back when ever. Bottom line we have fail American children and family's our system now is failing and mean while children like this young lady take full advantage of our tax money and seats in our schools. We must change this now nation wide and make the supporters pay dearly. I think Perry and crew should pay us all back out tax money and appeal this one way law for illegal aliens. I think the supporters have done well from there scamming the tax payers. We need to demand this Texas dream act be removed NOW. Also start checking students to see if they are here illegally. I say deport them and there parents NOW before we all go broke.
gypsy314 ne
What does illegal mean?????
jihad isco
Legally speaking, as soon as her tourist visa expired, Federal law recognized her as "illegally present", which she can be deported if she doesn't renew it within certain amount of time. It doesn't matter how fast or slow the government works, or that 9/11 made it more difficult. If your visa expired, you only have so much time to renew, or go back home and reapply.
In this woman case, seems like her family came here on a tourist visa, I can't imagine at 12yrs, she came on a work visa or even student visa. They tried to game the system and failed.
If her only argument as to why we should let her stay and pay for her education is that her visa expired, I have a bridge, well, we know where this is heading.
Consider this, five of the 9/11 hijackers were considered "illegally present" after their visas expired 3 months before 9/11.