I don't 100% agree with it, but I certainly see the argument for what Perry did in Texas. If they live in Tx because their parents brought them here, then the federal government has basically MANDATED that we provide services to them. The Fed is NOT going to make them go back home. So I can certainly understand why Texans would say, "hey, if they are going through the process of becoming a citizen legally, then why not grant them in state tuition so that they will at least be EDUCATED citizens rather than social services freeloaders for their whole life. We're stuck with them either way, so which one would we rather be stuck with."

Personally, I've been disappointed in the way the Perry campaign has defended this. I think it could have been handled much better than it has.