WASHINGTON (April 21, 2009)--Texas and nine other states offer in-state college tuition rates to illegal aliens, but the College Board, an influential group of 5,000 colleges and universities said
Tuesday it’s urging Congress to give thousands of illegal immigrants tuition aid and a path to citizenship.

The Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors or DREAM Act would amend a 1996 law to give illegal immigrants access to higher education benefits and a path to citizenship.

The push comes as opponents warn that immigration reform now could reduce already-scarce jobs and college enrollment slots in the ailing economy and after some states have moved in recent years to bar illegal immigrants from paying in-state tuition and, in some cases, even enrolling in their public colleges.

The Supreme Court ruled in 1982 that illegal immigrants are entitled to a K-12 public education, but federal law is silent as to their college rights.

Texas, California, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Utah and Washington are the only states still offering in-state tuition to illegal immigrants.

A report by Roberto Gonzales, an assistant professor at the School of Social Work at the University of Washington in Seattle, says the status of illegal immigrants who graduate from high school is a humanitarian, civil rights and economic issue.

The report says the ivnestment made in K-12 public education is lost if students aren’t educated to their full potential.

“The College Board is working to remove the barriers to a college education for all students,” College Board President Gaston Caperton said.

“Undocumented students deserve the same chance to go to college and fully participate in our society as other students.

“The DREAM Act would provide a way for them to fulfill their dreams and legally contribute to U.S. society. We must not turn our backs on these deserving young people,” he said.

The propposed measure is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of senators and congressmen including Sen. Richard Durbin, D- Illinois, Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Indiana, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, Reps. Howard Berman, D-California, Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-California, and Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Fla.

The College Board says nearly 40 percent of undocumented children in the U.S. are living below the poverty level, compared to 17 percent of native-born children.

“The DREAM Act will benefit those deserving students who have met the same rigorous academic requirements as their college-bound peers, but are now denied the financial aid and lower in-state tuition provided to other students,” Antonio Flores, president and CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, said,.

“The nation as a whole would benefit from the education of these young people, who will be able to make their fullest contribution as future taxpayers, professionals and leaders in areas of critical importance to the nation's economy and security.”