February 1, 2008
Should illegal immigrants be allowed to attend Virginia's colleges?

Should illegal immigrants living in Virginia be allowed to attend the state's public colleges and universities?

The House of Delegates tentatively said no Friday.

Currently, illegal immigrants are allowed to attend public colleges, but must pay out-of-state tuition. The bill's sponsor says he's trying to honor immigrants who've come to the U.S. and Virginia legally.

He says if illegal immigrants can afford to pay out-of-state tuition, paying tuition at a private college shouldn't be a problem.

But opponents say it's not fair to punish students who were brought to Virginia illegally by their parents.

The State Council for Higher Education estimates there are 800 to 1,000 illegal immigrants currently enrolled in state colleges.

The bill could pass out of the House as early as Monday.

http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=7810659