Illegal Immigrant tuition restriction bill defeated in State Senate

By OLYMPIA MEOLA
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Published: February 29, 2008

Undocumented immigrant students apparently can continue to attend state public colleges and universities that will accept them—at least for now.

On a 9-5 vote yesterday the Senate Health and Education Committee effectively killed Del. Christopher K. Peace’s House Bill 14 to block undocumented students from attending state public colleges and universities. The bill was “passed by indefinitely,“ which is a way to snuff legislation.

“The Democratic Senate is fine with allowing illegal immigrants to enroll in public colleges and universities supported by taxpayers in Virginia,“ Peace, R-Hanover, said after his bill died.

“They’re fine with the status quo which is permissive of that activity.“

Several of Virginia’s public universities do not check legal residence in the U.S. before allowing enrollment, according to a survey by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Each school sets its own policy on admitting undocumented immigrants, as do the state’s 23 public community colleges, which are roughly split—12 indicate they permit enrollment and 11 prohibit it.

Some schools say that they do not admit undocumented students but do not verify legal residency status if the student claims to be a U.S. citizen on the application and pays out-of-state tuition.

Undocumented immigrants must pay out-of-state tuition rates, which can run more than double in-state tuition rates.

Some college admissions officers say that having students pay those high rates makes them a benefit to the universities. They say the students do not occupy seats that would go to other students.

Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or .