Proposal Would Grant In-State Tuition To Illegal Immigrants

DENVER (CBS4)- Democratic lawmakers are making another attempt to pass a bill that would grant in-state tuition to illegal immigrants in Colorado.

The proposal would allow illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition if they meet certain criteria, such as attending a Colorado school for at least three years and graduating from a high school in the state.

One student, Alicia, is in favor of the bill. The 17-year-old is a senior at Bruce Randolph High School with a 3.5 GPA and hopes to go to college in-state.

She has lived in Colorado since she was 2 years old. Alicia is also an undocumented immigrant.

"This is why I'm here. I'm also representing thousands of students who want the same rights and opportunities as I do," said Alicia, who did not want us to use her last name.

Alicia said her future is riding on the passage of Senate Bill 126. The bill would grant in-state tuition to undocumented students in Colorado.

State Senator Ted Harvey, (R) Douglas County, said the bill rewards illegal behavior and punishes hard working Coloradans.

"We as a society of taxpayers need to say as a society enough is enough. We are not going to continue to expand benefits to people who are here illegally," said Harvey.

Alicia said money in her family is tight and that she deserves a chance for an affordable education.

"I want to say we're all human beings no matter what race, no matter where we come from," said Alicia. "We will give back to our community because this is why we're here and we would do anything so I just want the same opportunities as everyone else."

Alicia has been accepted at the University of Northern Colorado and Metro State. She said if the bill doesn't pass, she'll have to go elsewhere to continue her education.

California, Illinois, Kansas, New Mexico and New York are among the states that have approved legislation allowing illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition.

Colorado lawmakers tried in 2009 to pass such a bill but it was killed in the Democratic-controlled Senate.