The myth of special treatment for undocumented immigrant college students
The framing of this piece is interesting. Calling it a "myth" suggests the author believes the argument against undocumented students accessing college benefits rests on a false premise. And they have a point worth engaging with. Undocumented immigrants do pay sales taxes, property taxes, and often payroll taxes through borrowed Social Security numbers, money that never comes back to them in benefits. So whether their children get "special treatment" is really a question of whether they're being treated fairly at all.
That said, I'd want more specifics than the summary provides. Which benefits exactly are we talking about, in-state tuition, financial aid, scholarships? The details matter because the public conversation lumps together very different policies. Some states allow undocumented students to pay in-state rates, others don't. Federal aid is off the table entirely.
I think the honest position is that fairness here means recognizing the contributions of people already part of our communities and economies. But the other side deserves its fair hearing too, particularly on the rule of law and how public resources should be directed. Both arguments carry weight, and the best policy will come from taking both seriously.