good luck to you NJ residents!!
Quote:
The Assembly Appropriations Committee Monday approved legislation to permit some undocumented New Jersey high school graduates to pay in-state tuition at state-run colleges and universities.
Under the measure, A-194/990, in-state tuition rates would be extended to undocumented aliens who attended a New Jersey high school for at least three years and either graduated or received a graduation equivalency diploma. The student also would be required to pledge through an affidavit to file an application to legalize their immigration status.
The committee approved the bill 7-4 and sent it to the full Assembly where it could receive a floor vote as early as Thursday.
"Instead of giving undocumented aliens an incentive to legalize their status and become contributing members of society, our laws are only serving to push them further to the margins," said Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen), a co-sponsor. "Illegal aliens who have graduated from New Jersey's public schools should be able to continue their education just as freely as their peers."
"It is a matter of simple fairness that students who have grown up in New Jersey, graduated from high school in New Jersey and are the future of New Jersey be given the simple dignity of being able to go to college here, as well," said Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden), another co-sponsor.
The lawmakers said that many undocumented students have spent their entire lives in the United States. But because their parents never became legal residents, they are unable to continue their studies. They said the current system often condemns these students to low-end, off-the-books jobs and prevents them from becoming taxpayers.
The legislation is supported by the New Jersey Immigration Policy Network.
"Very often these students came to this country because their family was fleeing political or economic instability, a decision made by the parents not the student,‘' said Charles "Shai'' Goldstein, a Network leader. "Yet, despite the many obstacles they have faced, these students worked hard and succeeded in school. New Jersey should reward them for their hard work, initiative and desire to pursue higher education to become productive members of our communities. When talented students in our communities are prevented from reaching their full potential, we all suffer."
The bill was endorsed by the Governor's Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on Immigrant Policy. If enacted, New Jersey would become the 11th state to extend in-state tuition rates to undocumented students, joining California, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Washington.
Assemblyman Richard Merkt (R-Morris) was one of four Republicans on the committee to oppose the legislation.
"New Jersey's public institutions are not immune from the state's dire financial circumstances," Merkt said. "We cannot afford to use the public's dwindling dollars to provide a generous benefit to those who have no legal standing to live here let alone receive all the privileges of legal residents.
"My colleagues need to realize that New Jersey is broke before voting at the last minute to grant another giveaway that legal and hard-working families cannot afford to provide. This proposal is disrespectful to those families who play by the rules, but just squeak by sending their children to college with hopes of a better future. We should be focused on helping these families, not adding to their burden."
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http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/bill-to-charge-in-state-college-tuition-to-undocumented-students-moves-in-assembly
Last edited by Feenmi; 01-04-2010 at 09:09 PM..