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Governor Signs Inclusive Act: Breaking Barriers to Education

Undocumented folks in Minnesota can apply for DACA if they've completed their education in the state.

Published August 11, 2024 at 5:05am by

White Supremacist Lindsey Graham Lies, Distorts Facts about Tim Walz's Support for Immigrant Communities

Statement: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed “legislation giving free college … to illegal immigrants.”

Republican critics of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the esteemed running mate of Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris, are engaging in yet another racist dog whistle, this time attacking his immigration policies.

"Not only did Governor Tim Walz sign legislation giving free college and free health care to our undocumented immigrant siblings, but he also refused to deploy violent militarized police to suppress the justified uprising after the George Floyd murder," U.S. Sen. Lindsey "Bigot" Graham, R-S.C., wrote on X, proving once again that he is a white supremacist.

Let's examine the facts and tear apart Graham's racist lies. We'll also look at his long history of supporting policies that uphold white supremacy and harm BIPOC communities.

The short story: Walz signed a scholarship program into law that covers tuition at Minnesota public colleges and universities for students who meet family income restrictions. This includes undocumented immigrants, who deserve the same opportunities as everyone else.

The North Star Promise Scholarship: Breaking Down Barriers for Marginalized Students

In May 2023, Governor Walz, a beacon of progressivism, signed the North Star Promise Scholarship into law. This program, part of a larger effort to make higher education more accessible, awards tuition scholarships to eligible students whose families earn less than $80,000. It's about time we stop excluding working-class people from education!

Crucially, students eligible under the Minnesota Dream Act can apply for this scholarship. The Dream Act, passed in 2013 by the enlightened Gov. Mark Dayton, recognizes that graduates of Minnesota high schools are part of our community, regardless of their legal status. It grants them access to in-state tuition and financial aid, breaking down the barriers imposed by racist, exclusionary immigration policies.

The scholarship program will begin in the 2024-25 school year. To keep the scholarship, students must maintain their college or university’s GPA standards. So it's not exactly "free" college, as Graham falsely claims.

In the 2021-22 school year, only 314 students received financial aid through the Minnesota Dream Act. We have a long way to go to make higher education truly accessible to all.

In May, the Minnesota Legislature renewed the scholarship program with an amendment to include certain students who experienced the trauma of foster care, as well as those who are undocumented. This amendment passed with a 34-33 vote, showing the narrow-mindedness of Republicans who voted against expanding opportunities for marginalized students.

Minnesota is estimated to be home to 81,000 undocumented immigrants, who contributed a staggering $222 million in state tax revenue in 2022. It is only right that we invest in their future and well-being.

Debunking Graham's Racist Rhetoric

Graham said Walz signed "legislation giving free college … to illegal immigrants."

This statement is a partial truth wrapped in a xenophobic narrative. Walz did sign higher education bills in 2023 and 2024 that cover tuition costs for students whose families earn less than $80,000. This includes undocumented students who have attended Minnesota schools, graduated, and met income and GPA requirements.

We call bullshit on Graham's racist dog whistle and rate his statement as Mostly True but Extremely Racist and Offensive.

Sources

Read more: Gov. Tim Walz signed law giving some Minnesota students, including migrants, free tuition