IN-STATE for DREAMers Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2014

CONTACT
Adela de la Torre, 213-674-2832, [email protected]

New Legislation Could Make Dreams a Reality

Bill Encouraging In-State Tuition for All Residents Is Win-Win for States

WASHINGTON — Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) today introduced the Investing in Students to Achieve Tuition Equity (IN-STATE) for DREAMers Act, a bill designed to encourage states to expand in-state tuition rates to all their residents. The bill would establish a program that would provide grants to states that offer in-state tuition or financial aid to immigrant students, regardless of their immigration status. Sen. Maize Hirono (D-HI) and Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) also are cosigners of this legislation.

“The National Immigration Law Center praises Senators Murray and Hirono and Representatives Polis and Castro for recognizing that improving access to education is a powerful way to ensure our nation’s future economic success,” said Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center.

“The popularity of in-state tuition laws — both ruby-red Texas and deep-blue California offer not only tuition equity, but also financial aid for immigrant students, regardless of immigration status — should serve as a reminder to legislators in Washington that this proposal isn’t just sound education and economic policy, it’s also one whose antecedents are bipartisan. We will continue working toward a day when all students — regardless of where they were born or their financial situation — will be able to achieve their educational dreams.”

Hincapié added, “Congress can and should continue to advance proposals to build a broad, direct road to citizenship for all those living and laboring in the United States. Until then, we need commonsense policies such as the one this bill would create to ensure that all our communities and economies can continue to grow stronger together.”

The National Immigration Law Center has long advocated for tuition equity, and it tracks state-level tuition policy proposals throughout the country. Learn more about state-level tuition policies atwww.nilc.org/eduaccesstoolkit1.html.

# # #