AB-540, a measure that would allow illegal aliens who live in California to pay in-state tuition and fees to California State Universities and community colleges, is a transparent attempt to ease relations between the United States and other countries.

The California State Assembly passed the bill Sept. 14. Gov. Gray Davis vetoed the same measure last year, and after its recent approval by the assembly, it now awaits a second decision from the governor.

Though the measure only explicitly applies to CSU schools and community colleges, observers believe that, if implemented as it was in Texas, the UC Regents would quickly follow suit and adopt the bill’s points.

We should not be granting benefits to illegal aliens that we do not even grant to U.S. citizens.

If we make a student from Nevada pay out-of-state tuition, we should make people who come illegally from other countries pay the same tuition.

Furthermore, this measure will cost the state money as many undocumented aliens already pay the out-of-state tuition. This is money that would be better used toward state scholarships that would benefit Americans who cannot afford to go to college.

A country should help its taxpaying citizens, of which there are plenty, before it helps illegal aliens.

Also, while the bill addresses the concern of easing the burden of exorbitant out-of-state tuition and fees for undocumented California residents, a problem that even American citizens face, the measure is inherently flawed because it does not address other concerns such as the inability of illegal aliens to work legally in the United States or to receive financial help at either the federal or state level.

Without legal California residency, illegal immigrants cannot apply for financial aid. Many students who already live in California and who are eligible for in-state tuition cannot even afford to attend college, but have the option of applying for and receiving financial aid and working. Without also granting these rights to illegal aliens in addition to lowering their tuition fees, the measure is only half of the already flawed answer to getting underrepresented students to attend California colleges.

The measure assumes that illegal aliens do not have the monetary resources to pay out-of-state tuition. Even if true, there are plenty of underrepresented legal California residents who need help. They should get priority over citizens of foreign countries who are here illegally.