Illegal Immigrants Sap College System

Excuse me, but has the definition of legality changed lately? The article, “CSU Plans to Raise Fees for Illegal Immigrants,” (April 2) makes me wonder.

Could it be that the definition of what is legal and illegal has been drastically altered while those of us who are here in this country legally have been focusing our attention on earning a living serving in the U.S. military, doing volunteer work, supporting our churches and other community organizations and, oh yes, paying an ever-increasing “share” of taxes to support all levels of government? What in the world is going on here?

Your article points out that students who are in this country illegally are now going to have to pay the same higher tuition and fees that out-of-state and foreign students are charged. On top of that they--those who are in this country illegally--will no longer be eligible for any public financial aid to subsidize their tuitions! What’s wrong with this picture?

While some may lament the fact that those illegals may be forced to drop out of school because of the higher tuition and fee structure, who is expressing any concerns for the qualified, legal, U.S. citizen, men and women who have not been able to pursue their education at all--much less obtain tax-supported financial aid and subsidized tuitions--because their college chairs were occupied by individuals who have no legal right to be in this country?

As for those campus officials who are having a moral problem with administering the new higher tuition and fee policy for the illegals, how about a little moral outrage over the ever-increasing burden these illegals have forced on the citizens of California and the rest of nation. What about the illegals themselves? Don’t they have any moral problems with the fact that they are breaking our law and placing increasingly greater financial and other burdens on U.S. citizens because of their illegal status? I guess not.

TOM ELLICK

Huntington Beach