Yves Gomes, a student at the University of Maryland, who's parents were deported, right, talks to his great uncle Henry Gomes, in his great uncle's house where he lives, in Silver Spring, Md., Friday Jan. 17, 2014. Gomes says he considers himself one of the lucky ones _ lucky, at least, among the so-called “DREAMers.” Even though his parents were deported and his legal status was once in limbo, today the 21-year-old Indian native attends the University of Maryland paying in-state tuition. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
February 01, 2014 - 5:59 AM
WASHINGTON - Four states passed statutes last year that will allow students who came to the U.S. without legal permission as minors to pay in-state college tuition.
The National Conference of State Legislatures says 15 states now have in-state tuition statutes.
That's energized supporters of immigrants' rights, and they're next planning to step up lobbying efforts to make those students eligible for state financial aid programs.
University boards in Hawaii, Michigan and Rhode Island have granted these students in-state tuition. To qualify, high school graduates typically must meet requirements such as living in a state for a certain number of years.
Critics say helping these students encourages unlawful behaviour and means they potentially are taking someone else's seat at taxpayers' expense.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014