Travels back from Washington, DC prevented me from posting this yesterday.
In a decision today, the 14th Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas (IRCOT), giving them the ability to move forward to trial in their case against Lone Star College and Texas State Comptroller Susan Combs over grants of In-State Tuition and Taxpayer-supported Scholarships to illegal immigrants.
Here is the press release:
CONTACT: Maria Martinez
Tel. 713-503-8875
Email: [email protected] SECOND CONTACT: David Rogers Tel. 512-923-6188
Email: [email protected]
-For Immediate Release-
APPEALS COURT RULES FAVORABLY GIVING IMMIGRATION REFORM COALITION OF TEXAS (IRCOT) GO-AHEAD IN ITS CASE AGAINST LONE STAR COLLEGE ON IN-STATE TUITION FOR NON-CITIZENS
Houston, Texas. In a decision today, the 14th Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas (IRCOT), giving them the ability to move forward to trial in their case against Lone Star College and Texas State Comptroller Susan Combs over grants of In-State Tuition and Taxpayer-supported Scholarships to illegal immigrants.
In its Majority Opinion, the Court states that:
IRCOT alleges in its pleadings, among other things, that appellants have in the past and will continue in the future to provide grants using Texas state funds, accumulated from taxes paid by IRCOT members, to illegal aliens in violation of federal statutes. IRCOT further alleges that sections of the LSCS policy manual that implement the grant programs violate, and thus are preempted by, federal law and that illegal aliens attending state-supported universities in Harris County, which includes LSCS in part, receive grants under the listed programs in violation of federal law. … [T]he allegations contained therein are sufficient to demonstrate that an actual controversy exists, that harm (in the form of alleged illegal expenditures of IRCOT’s members’ tax dollars) has occurred, is occurring, or is imminent, and that IRCOT’s claims as pleaded are ripe for adjudication.
…Finding no error in the trial court’s denial of appellant’s plea to the jurisdiction, we affirm the trial court’s order.
IRCOT Executive Director Maria Martinez states, “The Court’s ruling affirms our position that the State of Texas was in error in awarding benefits to non-U.S. citizens for which even U.S. citizens from bordering states, and members of the military are not eligible.”
IRCOT is represented in this suit by former Texas Supreme Court Justice Steven Wayne Smith
As this issue of instate tuition for illegal aliens becomes another battering ram for the 4-man Republican race for Lt. Governor, just remember that no Republican in Austin was willing to legislate this out of existence a few years ago. The activists of IRCOT & now, TFIRE.org were the ones who had to forward a judicial way out of this forced subsidy for IA's. Kudos for the patience and enduring wisdom of former Supreme Court Justice, Steve Smith & attorney David Rogers, immigration fighters Maria Martinez,Rebecca Forest & longtime stalwart, Louise Whiteford for their support.
Yea, Ircot! Thanks to our legal assistance in seeing this through. Steve Smith and David Rogers did it!!!
So great to have some good news for a change. Congratulations, Louise, Liz and the rest who have pursued this issue.