PHOENIX
Nearly 5,000 people have been denied in-state college
tuition, financial aid and adult education classes this year under a new
Arizona law banning undocumented immigrants from receiving those state-funded
services, a new study shows.
The Joint Legislative Budget Committee’s report said that
since Proposition 300 took effect on Jan.
1, 1,500 students from Arizona
State University
and the University of Arizona
were denied financial aid or in-state financial status because they couldn’t
prove their legal status and an additional 1,790 community-college students
statewide were blocked.
Out of 13,700 applications for government-assisted child
care, the state rejected 86 because the individuals couldn’t prove citizenship,
according to the report.
It also said that 1,403 out of 11,931 applicants for state adult
education were rejected and of 220 individuals who applied for the Family
Literacy Program, 30 were deemed ineligible.
The legislative committee produced its report after
receiving reports from colleges and other programs as required under the new law.
The Associated Press reported on the data from those reports on July 11.
Proposition 300 was one of four immigration-related ballot
measures approved at the polls last November by Arizona voters.
The measure requires undocumented immigrants to pay the
out-of-state tuition rate at the state’s public universities and colleges,
prohibits students from receiving any type of financial assistance that is
funded with state money, and requires schools to determine and report to the
state Legislature twice a year how many undocumented immigrants are attending
their schools.
The measure’s impact has not been nearly as widespread as
opponents expected, but supporters say it’s reducing the amount the state
spends on illegal immigrants.
“It’s definitely working,” said state Treasurer
Dean Martin, a Republican and former state senator who championed the ballot
initiative.
Some students are applying for private scholarships that
don’t require Social Security numbers, proof of legal residency or citizenship
while some are trying to raise money from local residents to help cover tuition
costs. Others are cutting class loads and taking more time to earn degrees.
Information from: The Arizona Republic,
https://www.azcentral.com/
– Associated Press
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