Texas Rep. Brian Harrison is sounding the alarm on the University of Texas’ tuition assistance program, suggesting the scheme could benefit unlawful migrants.
“Breaking: University of Texas responded to me, and it appears they will offer “free” college to ILLEGAL ALIENS who make up to $100k/year, including for ‘LGBTQ Studies’ students,” Harrison wrote on X on Wednesday.
Harrison’s post includes a screenshot from the University of Texas System answering a question about whether the free tuition program will apply to unlawful aliens.
“A student must be a resident of Texas to qualify for the program,” UT System said.
Harrison said in his X post that the UT System “also confirmed they will ask for MORE TAX MONEY in the next session.”
The University of Texas System noted in its comments that “The Promise Plus program is a scholarship program funded from UT’s constitutionally dedicated endowment and not from taxpayer funds.”
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Harrison was one of a group of Texas Representatives and Representatives-elect who slammed the University of Texas System last month for its free tuition program.
“My colleagues and I are demanding answers from [UT System] Regents on their socialist, regressive, and possibly unconstitutional ‘free’ college scheme for families making up to $100k/year,” Harrison posted on X on November 21.
“Nothing is free. This outrageous abuse of power by unelected, executive branch bureaucrats makes higher education in Texas more socialist than California. A decision this consequential should only be made by the legislature. If you liked Biden’s unconstitutional loan forgiveness program, you’ll love this.
“The legislature must stop this Nancy Pelosi-esque, regressive, welfare-for-the-rich program that abuses working class Texans by forcing them to fund ‘free’ college for ‘LGBTQ Studies’ students. There must be consequences. UT’s budget must be cut, and bureaucrats should be fired,” Harrison wrote last month.
Harrison’s more recent post on December 5 has been met with reactions from X users.
“Be mindful that our ‘Republican’ Governor Greg Abbott appoints ‘the board of regents.’ He can absolutely nip this and other issues dealing with the UT system in the bud,” Monique Worthy wrote on X.
“Governor Abbott can stop this!” social media user Kambree wrote on X.
However, social media user Sam Jones, a self-proclaimed conservative, responded on X, “Actually, no he can’t since [it’s] not taxpayer money being used. It’s scholarship money.”