PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Supporters of in-state tuition for illegal immigrants say Rhode Island’s recent adoption of that policy will help students get the kind of advanced education they need to succeed in the work force.
But students who are not here legally may still face a major obstacle even with the benefit of a college degree. Many have no immediate pathway to legal status and cannot be legally hired under current federal immigration law.
The Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education unanimously approved in-state tuition for illegal immigrants last week, but supporters of the policy change say they will keep pushing for passage of the federal DREAM Act. That legislation provides a pathway to legal residency, providing students meet certain requirements.
