Governor Jodi Rell of Connecticut made the difficult but right decision in vetoing In-State Tuition for illegal young people brought into this country by their parents.
 
 The Connecticut newspapers had headlines such as "Veto Dissolves College Dream" and "Rell deals blow to children of illegal immigrants." However, there are a few things to remember.

First, these children are now adults and they are here illegally. They are responsible adults and should now return to their home countries. Their parents broke our immigration laws entering the country. Their parents were employed illegally, used false identification to secure legitimate work or were paid off the books. In short, their parents took jobs that belonged to American citizens.

Second, if these young adults were legalized, they could then sponsor the citizenship of their parents and other relatives into the country. In other words, this would be a backdoor amnesty.

Third, these young adults are no worse off than they were before. With a fine education sponsored by the American taxpayers and with bilingual fluency, they will be better than they had they stayed in their home country. Hopefully, they can improve their home countries so mass criminal migration is not necessary.

While these young adults are here because their parents brought them here, they should no more be rewarded for their parents criminal behavior than children of a bank robber should be allowed to keep the money from a bank robbery.

In the NY Times article, the Governor says, "The fact remains, however, that these students and their parents are here illegally, and neither sympathy nor good intentions can ameliorate that fact." Well said.

www.nytimes.com/2007/06/27/nyregion/27veto.html

Compassion begins with the American workers who can't find work because of illegals. Compassion begins with Americans living next door to a house filled with twenty illegals. Compassion begins with the parents of two American teenage girls murdered by a drunken illegal driver. Compassion begins with taxpayers who pay for the education, welfare and health care for illegals. Compassion does not begin with those who have entered this country illegally.

The Governor's first responsibility is to the citizens of the State of Connecticut and she admirably fulfilled that responsibility in vetoing this unwise legislation.

If you have a moment, please send the Governor an email, tell her where you are from and that you appreciate her decision.

Governor M. Jodi Rell
860-566-4840 or 800-406-1527
governor.rell@po.state.ct.us

Paul Streitz
Co-director
CT Citizens for Immigration Reform
www.ctcic.net
ctcic@optonline.net

Mr. Streitz is author of Oxford: Son of Queen Elizabeth I, The Great American College Tuition Rip-off and America First, Why Americans Must End Free Trade, Stop Outsourcing and Close Our Open Borders.