Immigrant tuition

When Arizona college students return to class this month, they might find themselves down a few classmates. In November, Arizona passed Proposition 300, a ballot initiative requiring students who cannot prove themselves to be legal immigrants to pay out-of-state tuition prices.

The Associated Press reported that during the BCS National Championship game on Jan. 8, protesters gathered outside of the University of Phoenix Stadium to show their reluctance to accept the new law.

Under the law, an illegal immigrant's yearly tuition cost for attending a four-year school such as the University of Arizona will triple, increasing $4,764 to $14,970. In addition to the increased tuition cost, according to the AP, the law also "prohibits students from receiving any type of financial assistance that is funded with state money and requires schools to report how many illegal immigrants are attending their schools."

At UA, those currently attending school must now declare legal status of being a legal U.S. resident, which will be double-checked after the student submits the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The passage of this law will put those students unable to prove legal residency either drop out of school or find the necessary money to pay for their degree.

This sudden monetary increase will leave many as college dropouts - some just a few quarters short of earning a degree.

These students who are attending schools such as UA have been through Arizona's public school system and are on their way to becoming well-educated adults. Complaints are often made of illegal immigrants contributing little-to-nothing to America's greater good. Making college unaffordable to many of them, however, will in itself create a surge of illegal immigrants searching for menial jobs.

The Glendale, Ariz. protesters are in support of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act. The DREAM Act will help those graduating from U.S. high schools attain legal U.S. status. The DREAM Act is currently in the U.S. Senate.

Those illegal immigrant students enrolled in Arizona colleges more than likely were brought by their parents to America and know little else other than their lives in the United States. By increasing their tuition costs, it will force them out of higher education and into the jobs worked by their parents. This cycle, unfortunately, will continue unless they are provided a way out either through attaining legal residency or earning a four-year degree. The Lantern disagrees with Arizona voters for tripling tuition costs for illegal immigrants and is in support of the DREAM Act that will help many attain the long sought-after dream of U.S. citizenship.