Gov. Patrick Renews Support For Immigrant Tuition Bill
BOSTON (AP) -- Gov. Deval Patrick is renewing his support for a proposal to allow immigrant students without legal status in Massachusetts to pay the same tuition rate at public colleges as legal residents.
Patrick stopped by a Wednesday hearing at the Statehouse to back a bill that would let the students pay the lower in-state rate provided that they've attended high school in Massachusetts for at least three years.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Ben Parker reports
Podcast
The students would also have to sign an affidavit stating that they've applied for permanent residency or citizenship, or plan to within three months of qualifying.
Critics of similar proposals say illegal immigrants shouldn't be offered the same benefits as citizens or others in the state legally.
Supporters say many of the immigrant students were brought here as young children by their parents.
(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
