Photo: Gov. Patrick Pushing for In-state Tuition for Undocumented in Massachusetts
Governor Deval Patrick is pushing for measures that would allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition, and may have rejuvenated the fight in Massachusetts.
During a packed hearing at the Statehouse on Wednesday, Democratic Gov. Patrick made a surprise visit to urge legislators to pass a bill that would give undocumented students who met certain requirements the opportunity to pay in-state tuition rates.
“I know they’re going to hear the arguments on both side,” Gov. Patrick said after speaking to the Joint Committee on Higher Education. “But they should keep in mind we’re talking about real people—individuals, students, and families—whose ambitions are caught up in the only community in most cases that they know.”
Though opponents of such measures don’t believe undocumented immigrants should be offered the same benefits at citizens, supporters point out that many immigrant students were brought to the U.S. as children by their parents, and should not be at a disadvantage for a situation they did not create for themselves.
