Associated Press
Children of illegal immigrants could qualify for more affordable, in-state tuition rates at Utah's colleges and universities by as soon as January.
Utah lawmakers passed legislation earlier this year aimed at removing barriers that hold back children of illegal immigrants from getting a college education. The law states undocumented immigrants who have attended Utah high schools for at least three years are eligible for in-state tuition, which is about two-thirds less than the nonresident rate they must pay now.
School administrators believed they couldn't implement the legislation until restrictions at the federal level were removed.
But Assistant Attorney General William T. Evans issued a legal opinion last month saying "the Utah statute is valid and currently enforceable."
Federal law prohibits states from giving higher education benefits to illegal immigrants unless the same benefits are available to U.S. citizens.
Posted by Suzanne at November 11, 2002