Bill Would Provide In-state Tuition for Undocumented Oregon Students

A Democratic and a Republican state legislator have introduced a tuition equity bill that would give in-state college tuition to undocumented Oregon students.

Rep. Michael Dembrow (D-Portland) and Sen. Frank Morse (R-Albany), along with the Oregon Student Association and CAUSA, were all present today at the state Capitol to announce the bill, which would apply to all public Oregon universities.

Morse described the bill as "doing the right thing" for undocumented children who have lived in the United States most of their entire lives and hope to continue their education beyond high school.

"[Undocumented students] have aspirations to continue, but their futures are foreclosed by having to pay out-of-state tuition," Morse said in a phone interview, adding that "The opposition to the bill is opposition to illegal immigration."

CAUSA posted a blog entry that lists the qualifications for receiving in-state tuition under the bill.

Other groups supporting the bill included the American Federation of Teachers, Oregon Education Association and Service Employees International Union.

The bill is a state version of the DREAM Act, which died last year in Congress at the federal level. Here's a Jan. 19 WW cover story about what the lack of a DREAM Act has meant for one woman in Oregon.

WWeek 2015