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Tonya Papanikolas reporting A House committee today approved one of several immigration related bills under consideration at the state legislature.
Ever since 2002, Utah law has allowed illegal immigrants who have spent three years in a Utah high school and graduated to pay in-state tuition rates when they attend college. But a bill debated in the House Education Committee today is trying to repeal that.
"We're doing something we really shouldn't do, promising these students that they can get a job," Weber County Rep. Glenn Donnelson said.
The bill's sponsor points out that after an illegal immigrant turns 18, if he leaves the United States, he isn't allowed to come back and work even with a college degree. So why offer benefits that can't always be used later?
For others, though, the issue is about equal access to education. "I think it's a wrong-headed attempt to punish those who are least able to fight back," Salt Lake County Rep. Carol Spackman Moss said.
During the committee hearing, the public gave comments favoring and opposing the bill.
"Paying in-state tuition is difficult for them, so to pay out-of-state tuition at a minimum pay wage is not a reality for them," said Denise Castanda, who opposes the bill.
"Tuition costs that are intended to be punitive. It sends the wrong message. It's anti-business," said Chris Gamvroulas, who also opposes the bill.
"This bill does not prevent illegal aliens from getting an education. They just have to pay the same amount that other aliens pay," said Eli Colley, who favors the bill.
"We are encouraging illegal immigration by supplying benefits to those illegal immigrants," said Karianne Lisonbee, who also favors the bill.
Lawmakers on both sides then voiced their opinions.
"It will cost the state money, cost money because many of these students will stop going to school," Spackman Moss said.
"We are disadvantaging those who approach our system legally and attain those benefits legally," Utah County Rep. Craig Frank said.
In the end, the committee passed the measure with five dissenting "no's."
Right now, 280 students take advantage of this in-state tuition benefit. The bill now goes to the full House of Representatives.
