Illegals' tuition may go up again

There's a bill in the works that would undo a law created by the 2002 Legislature that allows children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state college tuition.

Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, calls it a "fairness" issue and is looking to repeal the exemption from nonresident tuition created by Rep. David Ure, R-Kamas.

The exemption is available to a student who does not have citizenship but has attended a Utah high school for at least three years. Typically, students who qualify for the exemption are from low-income families that can't afford college, let alone paying nonresident prices.

The difference for a student using the exemption can mean a savings of anywhere between about $2,000 and $6,000, depending on the school.

If residents from other states have to pay out-of-state prices, then so should people from other countries, according to Donnelson. Since the exemption took effect, he added, people in his district have been wanting a repeal.

"Personally, the whole immigration thing needs to be looked at," he said. "I'm not in favor of giving drivers' licenses (to illegal immigrants)."

Rep. Mike Thompson, R-Orem, is sponsoring a bill, HB109, that would spell the end of using a temporary identification number as a substitute for a Social Security number when obtaining a driver's license.

Ure said his goal still is to target those students who need the exemptions, help them financially through college and make them contributing members to the economy. Don't penalize people just because they were brought to this country, albeit illegally, as children when they're ready to make a better life for themselves.

"Their immigration status is not their fault," said Dave Buhler, Utah System of Higher Education associate commissioner of public affairs. "We support the law the way it is."

Buhler and Ure said the number of students who actually take advantage of the exception is small. Donnelson disagrees, saying the number is growing all the time and that schools like Salt Lake Community College or smaller colleges will feel the biggest impact.

Donnelson's bill has not yet reached committee level, but he said if the bill doesn't make it to either floor this session, it will be back next year.

---

E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com