Francisco Cartagena, an undocumented immigrant, spoke at the Dream Act Rally at Nyumburu Amphitheater on Thursday. If passed, the measure would allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates if they meet a set of requirements, which include at least three years at a state high school and proving they or their parents have paid state taxes for at least three years.
While some call the DREAM Act a matter of fairness, others say it’s as simple as looking at the state’s strained budget.
Despite reports heralding the measure’s potential economic benefit, opponents say supporters aren’t considering the burdensome costs it would place on the state.
If upheld in the Nov. 6 election, the DREAM Act is estimated to cost $3.5 million a year in state funds to community and public colleges by 2016, according to the state’s Department of Legislative Services.
But those costs would be offset by a more educated state workforce, a recent University of Maryland, Baltimore County study concluded. The rationale is that undocumented students receiving a college education would increase their future income potential and eliminate some state welfare, health and public safety costs. The UMBC study estimated each graduating class would generate an additional $66 million for the state economy under this law.
“Every indication in their ability to give back in a significant economic way is there,” said Sean Johnson, managing director of legislative and political affairs for the Maryland State Education Association. “I think it is undeniable that the power of an educated workforce and community is realized.”
But Del. Michael Smigiel (R-Caroline, Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne’s) is skeptical of these supposed benefits.
“I don’t see it in any way being a benefit to the state,” he said, adding undocumented students would simply displace others and the money would have been generated anyway.
The DLS estimates also don’t factor in the costs that would come with a potential influx of undocumented immigrants that would be attracted to the state if the law is upheld. The state is already estimated to have 250,000 undocumented immigrants, who cost $1.4 billion a year in education, emergency medical care and incarceration expenses, according to a 2009 report by the Federation for American Immigration Reform.
“Maryland is probably one of the more generous states when it comes to illegal immigrants and it is coming at quite a hefty price to taxpayers,” said Ira Mehlman, a FAIR spokesman. “I’m sure there are a lot of other things that Maryland needs, or Marylanders need that could be paid for with the [money] that’s now going to subsidize illegal immigrants.”
But there is little evidence of this “magnet” effect, said government and politics professor Robert Koulish.
“I do think the effects would be minimal and would hardly make a dent in terms of the state’s economy,” Koulish said. “This argument does more to rev up emotions than it is based on reasons of argument.”
Although opponents have argued undocumented students would take away spots from qualified in-state applicants, the UMBC study stated no such phenomenon would occur. Under the legislation, undocumented students would qualify as out-of-state students, and the influx of DREAM Act-eligible individuals would comprise only about 0.1 percent of the population of students enrolled in Maryland public universities in 2012.
But with out-of-state students paying about $18,000 more in yearly tuition and fees, those eligible under the DREAM Act paying in-state rates could displace students who would pay more, leading to decreased revenue for universities.
“The out-of-state students pay the full rate,” Mehlman said. “If an illegal alien is admitted in place of an out-of-state student, that means that two-thirds of the cost are now going to be picked up by taxpayers.”
