The Maryland State Senate is beginning its deliberations on legislation to grant in-state tuition to the state’s undocumented students. Casa de Maryland has more information on this bill, which is called the “Maryland DREAM”:
The In-State Tuition Bill, or the “Maryland Dream Act” as it is often called, is a piece of legislation that would allow a specific category of students to qualify for in-state tuition at any 2-year community college or 4-year university in the state of Maryland.
While the bill benefits students regardless of their immigration status, undocumented students would not be the only beneficiaries of this bill; US Citizens and Permanent Residents under certain circumstances would also qualify. The in-state tuition is not an immigration reform bill but rather a bill to change the requirements for students to be eligible for in-state tuition, thus making higher education more accessible.
And here’s the latest update from the Washington Post:
Maryland would join 10 other states, including California, New York and Texas, in giving these students tuition breaks.
A similar bill passed Maryland’s General Assembly in 2003 but was vetoed by former Republican governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. Since then, the national debate over illegal immigration has intensified and the competition for slots at some of Maryland’s universities has increased.
