March 14, 2011

Undocument students cheer vote for tuition bill

A bill providing in-state tuition discounts for illegal immigrants just cleared the Senate on a 27 to 20 vote -- and the issue moves to the House.

The bill requires that illegal immigrants live and work in Maryland for three years before they qualify for lower tuition at state colleges and universities. It is a higher bar than legal citizens who move here from out of state.

The House is set to hold a hearing on the bill next week, though it is unclear if the body will vote on the measure before session is out. Some believe it will share the same fate as same sex marriage, which passed in the upper chamber only to be shelved in the House.

Supporters contended that the bill is intended to provide opportunities to children, many of whom did not choose to immigrate illegally. “This is about education and what the future of Maryland looks like,â€