DENVER
The Colorado Senate killed a proposal Monday that would have allowed undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition at state colleges and universities.
Five Democrats joined with Republicans to defeat the bill in a 18-16 vote after a three-hour debate.
Senate Bill 170 would have allowed students who are in the country illegally and who have graduated from Colorado high schools to pay in-state tuition plus the cost of a state stipend that other Colorado students receive.
Backers said these students shouldn't be punished for the laws their parents broke in coming to the United States. Opponents argued it would have violated a federal law that bars states from offering undocumented immigrants any benefit that's not given to citizens from other states.