Viewers tuning into the Republican presidential debate on September 22, 2011, witnessed Texas Governor Rick Perry repeatedly defend his state's policy of offering in-state tuition to some undocumented students against a wave of criticism from the other candidates. The sight of a staunchly conservative governor, a champion of small government, defending a controversial public benefit might have left many people confused, but Perry's stance is really more indicative of the complicated nuances surrounding this politically charged topic. As the debate showed, the issue of whether undocumented students have a right to broad access to higher education cuts across party lines and political ideologies, sometimes in unpredictable, rhetorically charged ways. Whatever position one takes, the issue of undocumented students will continue to impact the future direction and delivery of higher education, especially in the West, where a large percentage of this population resides. This "Policy Insights" examines the changing student demographics in the West and how the undocumented population may impact higher education in the years to come. (Contains 3 figures and 54 endnotes.)