Bill Could Bar Undocumented Immigrants from Attending Public Universities JEFFERSON CITY, MO (KBIA) - A bill that would bar illegal immigrants from public universities and community colleges won first-round approval in the Missouri House last night.
Supporters argued it's unfair for colleges to favor illegal immigrants over students who are in the United States legally.

Opponents countered that legal residents who have undocumented relatives could be harmed unintentionally. Democratic House Member Joe Aull of Saline County offered an amendment that would have exempted illegal immigrants who were enrolled in public schools for five years:

"That student probably, their family's probably making some kind of progress towards becoming United States citizens, not somebody thats in here on a fly-by-night basis, but it also allows the university the latitude of saying, We can accept this student, or we can not accept this student."

However, Aull's amendment failed. The bill needs another House vote before it can be sent to the Missouri Senate.
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