The battle over whether illegal immigrants should receive in-state tuition at Maryland?s public universities raged Thursday, as foreign students squared off against lawmakers who say only native-born students deserve the discounted tuition.
Sen. Andrew Harris, R-Baltimore and Harford counties, wants to prohibit illegal immigrants from receiving in-state tuition status because, he said, that amounts to a state subsidy and would take away college spots for native-born residents.
“By giving in-state tuition, you are rewarding illegal behavior,” Harris said.
But Sen. Paul Pinsky, D-Prince George?s, proposed giving illegals in-state tuition if they attend Maryland high schools at least two years, plan to apply for residency status and have parents who pay taxes.
At University of Maryland, College Park, that would decrease illegal immigrants? tuition from $23,000 to the in-state rate, $7,000, Pinsky said.
“It?s really an issue of fairness,” he said. “Someone lives in the state but for all intents and purposes will be excluded.”
Pinsky?s measure has the support of Gov. Martin O?Malley, a spokesman for the governor said Thursday.
The thorny issue of government aid for illegals played out in a hearing room as lawmakers heard impassioned pleas from both sides.
“I want to go to college, but I am afraid that once I graduate I will be prevented from achieving my dreams because I am an immigrant,” Edgar Mondragon, a senior at Bladensburg High School, told the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee.
Mondragon, 18, moved to the United States four years ago from Mexico. He said many of his teachers have encouraged him to go to college to pursue computer science, but he can?t afford out-of-state tuition.
“I don?t think it?s fair to close doors on people who want to contribute to this country,” he said.
Legislation giving foreign-born students in-state tuition passed the General Assembly in 2003 but was vetoed by then-Gov. Robert Ehrlich, a Republican.
Laws allowing illegal immigrants access to in-state college tuition have passed in 11 states, including Nebraska and Kansas, said Kim Propeack, a lawyer for Casa of Maryland, a statewide immigrant advocacy organization.
