Battle brews over tuition for illegal immigrants

Record (Hackensack N.J.)

HACKENSACK, N.J. — A national group that favors strict immigration policies has launched a campaign in six states aimed at drumming up opposition to in-state college tuition rates for illegal immigrants.

William Gheen of Americans for Legal Immigration says the group will deploy activists from around the nation to New Jersey, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Rhode Island and Wisconsin to lobby state legislators and hit the talk-radio circuit.

“In-state tuition for illegals legislation replaces innocent American students in the limited seats in college at taxpayer expense,” said Gheen, who is based in North Carolina, where the group helped defeat measures that would have allowed illegal immigrant students to attend college at in-state tuition rates. “These bills also violate federal law, provide taxpayer rewards and incentives for people to illegally immigrate to America.”

Immigration advocates in New Jersey said they were unaware of the new campaign but vowed to fight it vigorously.

“This campaign won’t get past the first exit of the New Jersey Turnpike,” said Cid Wilson, a trustee of Bergen Community College in Paramus.

“You’re going to see a strong movement against this campaign,” Wilson said. “Many of these students are undocumented through no fault of their own. Many have become shining stars in high school, and the only thing keeping New Jersey from reaping the rewards of their intellect is that a college degree is not within their reach.”

Many college loan and grants programs require proof of legal immigration status. So, unable to pay out-of-state fees, many undocumented high school graduates forgo four-year colleges or try to scrape together money for county community colleges.