Hatch again pushing illegals' education bill

WASHINGTON — Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, is again pushing a bill to allow states clearly to give in-state resident rates for college tuition to illegal aliens.

His "Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act," or DREAM Act, would also allow illegal aliens who entered America before age 16 to earn conditional resident status by graduating high school, being accepted to an institution of higher learning, serving in the military or performing community service.

Hatch introduced it again last week, after the Senate failed last year to vote on a similar bill and the House Judiciary Committee killed a House version of it.

"I want to make sure that the DREAM Act we introduce in the (current) 108th Congress will not die in the hopper as it did in the House last year," Hatch told the Senate last week.

"By introducing this bill, I know I am subjecting myself to criticism from both sides of the aisle on my immigration policy," Hatch said.

For example, he said some will attack him for possibly encouraging more aliens to immigrate illegally. He said his bill is designed to prevent that by applying only to youths who entered the United States at least five years before enactment of the bill. However, critics have complained it still rewards aliens who violated the law.

On the other hand, Hatch said some who advocate a general amnesty for illegal aliens say his bill should have no requirement for conditional residency aside from high school graduation. But he feels it is reasonable to require either higher education, military service or community service for the benefit.

Hatch said most of the young people that would be affected "came to this country with their parents as small children and have been raised here just like their U.S. citizen classmates. They view themselves as Americans and are loyal to our country. Some may not even realize that they are here in violation of our immigration laws."

He added that many "find themselves caught in a Catch-22 situation. As illegal immigrants, they cannot work legally. Moreover, they are effectively barred from developing academically beyond high school because of the high cost of pursuing higher education."

He said, "In short, though, these children have built their lives here, they have no possibility of achieving and living the American dream."

Hatch said his bill would repeal "the provision of federal law that prevents states from granting in-state tuition to undocumented aliens, leaving this issue at the discretion of the states."

He added, "My own state of Utah passed a law that will allow in-state tuition for aliens who have been residents in Utah for at least three years. Many states have either passed or are considering the passage of similar legislation."

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