There is a huge divide on most immigration issues. But the gap is not as wide - in fact, there is a lot of common ground - when the issue is what to do about those kids who are in this country illegally through no fault of their own.
Lots of folks think it is un-American to punish people for crimes they didn’t commit, especially when we’re talking about kids who grew up here, have done well in school and want to go to college and give back to the community.
Because of Proposition 300, most of those kids can’t afford a college education in Arizona. On this page and the next, you will meet some of them and understand why community and business leaders have decided to fund their tuition costs, as best we can, until the DREAM Act becomes law.
Two years ago, Arizona voters approved Prop. 300. It makes university students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or who do not have lawful immigration status, ineligible for state-funded or subsidized financial aid. It also requires them to pay out-of-state tuition, which is currently about $18,000 a year at Arizona State University. In-state tuition is about $5,500.
Undocumented students can still go to college. But a $12,000 tuition increase and the lack of financial aid means most of them cannot afford a college education without a lot of help.
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