Immigrant students in Arizona brace for higher tuition

By: JACQUES BILLEAUD - Associated Press

PHOENIX -- Illegal immigrants who are students at Arizona public universities and community colleges are regrouping in the face of a new law that denies them cheaper in-state tuition and financial assistance provided by the state.

Out-of-state rates make tuition three times more expensive, so advocates for immigrants say those students are seeking help from foundations, charities and other private sources. Some plan to sit out a semester to earn enough money to return to school.

Erika, a 20-year-old student at Phoenix College who declined to provide her last name for fear of deportation, said she took a reduced class load at the community college this semester to lower her costs.

"I am part of Arizona," said Erika, who was 9 years old when her parents brought her to Arizona from Chihuahua, Mexico. "I work here. I study here. I pay taxes, and I am not going to be considered an in-state student."

The law, approved by state voters in November, doesn't prevent illegal immigrants from attending college, but it bars them from getting state-funded scholarships, tuition and fee waivers and other financial assistance. Illegal immigrants are already prohibited from getting federal financial aid, which university officials said accounts for the majority of assistance for students.

An excellent example of arbitrary law enforcement - they have enough evidence to prove that these students are illegally in the country and must pay a higher tuition rate but they are still allowed to stay in the state and attend the university. Can you say "political schizophrenia"? -mm