Tuition costs have spiked for illegal immigrants attending college in Indiana this year, following the passage of a new state law. The
Indianapolis Star reports that the roughly 300 “undocumented” students who attend public universities face increases of up to three times the amount they’ve paid in the past.
Indiana is among a handful of states — including Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, and South Carolina — to pass such a measure.
“Considering that a lot of these kids are first-generation college kids, even paying in-state tuition is a problem for some,” Indiana University-Bloomington spokesman Mark Land told the newspaper. “These kids are being put in a challenging spot.”
The law essentially rescinds lower, in-state rates for those who are “not lawfully present” in the country. It also requires students to fill out an affidavit that asks whether they are illegal immigrants.
“When I saw it [the affidavit], it felt really bad,” said Sayra Perez, a student Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Born in Mexico, Perez has lived in the Hoosier State since the age of 5.
“I just want to go to school,” the sophomore said. “Is that that bad? Do you know how many kids don’t want to go to school?”
Rep. Mike Karickhoff, R-Kokomo, co-sponsored the bill.
“There are kids in our state that want to go to college,” Karickhoff said. “The resources are limited. They should have to be a legal resident of the state.”
Research from the Pew Hispanic Center estimates 120,000 illegal immigrants in the state in 2009, according to The Star.
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