PAYTON BILL WOULD GIVE UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS MORE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, CHANCE TO BECOME CONTRIBUTIVE PA. CITIZENS

States News Service
April 28, 2011
HARRISBURG, PA

The following information was released by Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Democratic Caucus:

State Rep. Tony Payton Jr. will introduce legislation that would allow undocumented immigrant students to pay in-state tuition at any Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education school, community college or state-related university.

Under Payton's bill, to be eligible, students would have to attend a public or nonpublic secondary school in Pennsylvania for at least three years, pay state income taxes for at least three years prior to enrollment in college, and provide an affidavit to the institution of higher education that the student will file an application to a become a permanent resident.

"Most undocumented students had no choice in entering the United States illegally, have lived in this country for most of their lives, and can make economic and social contributions to society if allowed to continue their studies on the college level," said Payton, D-Phila.

"Considering the significant cost difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition, as well as the fact that undocumented students are not eligible for federal financial aid, college is often extremely expensive and simply out of reach for many of these students."

Maryland recently became the 11th state to pass legislation allowing long-term undocumented immigrant students the ability to qualify for in-state tuition at institutions of higher education. Other states with similar provisions include Texas, New Mexico, Illinois and Utah.

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