Gov looking into tuition break for illegals

Posted by : Reynold Joseph


BOSTON (AP) -- Governor Deval Patrick says he's researching whether he can take unilateral action to allow illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at state colleges.

The governor made the comments while speaking to education and business leaders Thursday morning.

Patrick, who has long supported the idea, says his legal team is looking into whether the change can be made without approval from the Legislature.

House lawmakers soundly rejected in 2006 a bill that would let undocumented immigrant students pay in-state tuition.

Supporters argue that children of illegal immigrants who have graduated from Massachusetts high schools should pay the same tuition as their classmates.

But opponents say he state shouldn't be educating undocumented students so they can take higher paying jobs from legal residents.

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