Beebe: Law bans in-state tuition for illegal immigrants
Associated Press - May 26, 2008 3:04 PM ET

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Governor Beebe says denying illegal immigrants the chance to pay only in-state tuition at Arkansas colleges and universities is a matter of law, not of personal choice or opinion.

Beebe says he and his office knew nothing about the state's two largest universities quietly offering the rates to possible illegal immigrants. The director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education sent a letter to all the state's 2-year and 4-year schools last week banning the practice after a story by The Associated Press.

Beebe tells the AP that it was "not easy" to deny a cheaper college education to anyone, including illegal immigrants. However, the governor has said giving illegal immigrants in-state tuition likely would violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
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