IN: In-State Tuition Bill Stopped For Now; But They'll Try Sneak Attack Again

In-State Tuition Bill For Illegal Aliens Stopped In Indiana

Expose The Media
03/04/2012




Members of NumbersUSA and several other state and national pro-enforcement groups defeated initial efforts to pass a measure that grants in-state tuition to illegal aliens already enrolled in state universities.

Last year, legislators banned in-state tuition for illegal aliens as part of a comprehensive immigration enforcement law.


The Senate Education Committee recently added the in-state tuition measure to a broad educational reform bill that had passed the Indiana House without it. Republican Sen. Jean Leising sponsored the amendment to grandfather in illegal aliens who had enrolled in universities before July 2011. Pressing for the amendment, Leising said, “If they’re going to be living here anyway, why not let them be productive members of Indiana society?”


But in a rush of calls and emails prior to a floor vote, pro-enforcement activists argued that taxpayers should not subsidize the education of persons who cannot legally work in the U.S. The grassroots blitz convinced Senators to pull the bill from consideration.


Sen. Mike Delph, the sponsor of last year’s enforcement bill, said that Senators may have realized the grassroots blitz was a harbinger of more trouble leading into the election.

“Any type of amnesty at all would not be well received by the public, he said.


The battle over in-state tuition for illegal aliens may not be over, however.

Proponents of the bill’s educational reform measures will try to find another vehicle for them. If they are amended to another bill, Sen. Leising and others may again try to insert the in-state tuition language.

In-State Tuition Bill For Illegal Aliens Stopped In Indiana