http://rdu.news14.com/content/headlines ... 00&SecID=2

News14

Undocumented immigrants could get in-state tuition at North Carolina universities and community colleges.

That's the idea behind a new bill in the state House.

More than 30 lawmakers from both parties back the bill.

It's also drawing support from former Governor Jim Hunt.

Supporters said the bill would help more qualified students afford higher education.

"This state has become my home,� Jaime Zea, a Latino student, said. “I have big dreams to study and go to college and make my parents, my teachers and my mentors proud."

"They would still not be able to get any public funding, no loans, no grants,� Andrea Bazan Manson of El Pueblo explained. “They would still have to raise that money privately or from their parents. But it would make it more affordable to them."

But critics said there's no reason for taxpayers to foot the bill when illegal immigrants want to attend college.

"This bill asks the taxpayers to subsidize illegal aliens going to college to replace thousands of our legal citizens," Bill Gheen of Americans for Legal Immigration added.

Supporters introduced the bill Tuesday. It would need support from the state House and Senate to become law.