KBIA Local
(2009-07-08)
JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI
(KBIA) -
Governor Jay Nixon signed several bills into law Tuesday, including one that bars undocumented immigrants from receiving various forms of financial aid at Missouri colleges and universities. The new law also defines which documents international students may use to verify their status.
Jennifer Rafanan (RAH-fah-nahn) is Executive Director of the group Missouri Immigrant and Refugee Advocates. She's pleased that harsher language barring undocumented immigrants from enrolling in college was removed before passage:
It's a good compromise we don't want to bar students from having access to higher education, and that doesn't create a good educational climate in our state.
Rafanan says, though, that more work needs to be done to make immigrants feel welcome in Missouri.
The new law took effect immediately.
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