KBIA

New Legislation For Undocumented Immigrant Students JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI (KBIA) - Legislation in the Missouri Senate would allow some undocumented immigrants who've graduated from Missouri high schools to receive in-state tuition from state-run universities. The bill would require the student to provide an affidavit stating that he or she will apply to become a permanent U.S. resident. The sponsor, Democrat Jolie Justus of Kansas City, asked for support before a State Senate committee:

"I've had high school counselors who have come up to me and said, 'We're having a really hard time engaging some of the students, preventing dropout, preventing gang activity, keeping kids engaged, when they know that as soon as they graduate, they don't have documentation to work, and they don't have the financial ability to be able to go to college."

No one spoke against the bill during the hearing. Just two years ago lawmakers passed numerous restrictions against illegal immigration. However, they backed away from a proposal at the time that would have barred illegal immigrants from attending college. The chairman of the Senate Education Committee says he'll schedule a vote on the bill if Senator Justus can garner enough support from among committee members. © Copyright 2010, KBIA