USA/May 09, 2022/by Nasya Mancini/Source: https://cbs4local.com/

Every day thousands of kids come across the Bridge of the Americas and other ports of entry to go to school in El Paso and other border communities. However, Texas Governor Greg Abbott says it’s time to overturn a 40-year-old ruling that requires the United States to pay for the education of migrant children.

“The state of Texas, whether it be education or other issues should not be bearing the burden of the cost of immigration that’s resulting from the Biden Administration’s refusal to enforce immigration laws,” said Abbott at a press conference in Houston Thursday.

Many El Pasoans CBS4 spoke to disagreed with Abbott’s idea of challenging Plyler v. Doe.

“I think it’s wrong. I think everyone deserves a free education,” said an El Pasoan.

Plyler v. Doe is a 1982 Supreme Court ruling that requires public schools to educate all students, even if they are not U.S. citizens.

“They should never be denied an education,” said an El Paso dad.

CBS4 spoke to at least 20 people about their thoughts on Abbott’s idea, and not one person supported it.

A former teacher told CBS4 that she thinks it’s a political stunt.

“It’s supposed to be free, and even if they are from Mexico, they deserve a free education, too,” said the former teacher.

Another woman who was educated in Mexico said she knows the value of going to school on this side of the border.

“I was profoundly saddened, I think. Especially because a lot of people that I know have been educated here in the United State, and that’s the way they got their opportunities,” said Natalia.

A parent said children shouldn’t be punished because of their immigration status.

“Being a parent myself, ya know I put two daughters through college. I think that everybody should, especially kids should have the opportunity to an education,” said an El Paso parent.

Abbott has not said when exactly he would file a challenge to the Plyler v. Doe ruling.

Beto O’Rourke, who is running against incumbent Abbott in Texas’ gubernatorial race, responded to Abbott’s idea of challenging the ruling.

O’Rourke called it a war on public education.

“Governor Abbott is against providing public education to all the children of Texas. He’s saying out loud what we know he’s been working on ever since he became governor. He’s trying to defund our public schools,” said O’Rourke.

O’Rourke said that Abbott would rather take money out of public education and turn that funding into vouchers for private schools and charter schools.

Source: https://cbs4local.com/news/local/abbott-takes-aim-at-free-education-for-migrant-children-in-the-united-states-plyler-v-doe-supreme-court-case-ruling-mexico-nation-all-kids-public-schools-el-paso-houston