Under review: Brewer’s order may not affect tuition
Dominic DeCono
They are just law abiding citizens.
Maricopa Community Colleges is reviewing undocumented immigrants’ access to in-state tuition through President Obama’s deferred-action program.
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DAFCA) allows undocumented students to obtain work permits and access to other benefits if they qualify for the program.
They also receive temporary citizenship status and avoid being deported out of the United States for the next two years.
This decision comes in direct contrast to Governor Brewer’s executive order blocking individuals eligible for the program access to it.
According to Executive Order 2012-06, the Deferred Action program cannot provide lawful or authorized status to those who are unlawfully in Arizona according the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Tom Gariepy, spokesperson for Maricopa Community Colleges, said the Governor’s decision does not affect tuition.
“There is already an existing law on the books that says undocumented individuals who provide proof of residency through items such as work permits or other types of documents can gain access to in-state tuition. The Governor’s order does not affect this law,” he said.
Proposition 300, passed in 2006, says individuals who are here illegally may not be eligible for in state tuition and as a result, many undocumented students have not been able to pay for school because of the cost.
Out-of-state tuition for Maricopa Community Colleges is $317 per credit hour compared to just $76 per hour for in-sate tuition.
Should Maricopa County Community Colleges determine work permits count as proof of authorized status, it will counteract Prop 300.
Gariepy also said that the media has falsely been reporting the story about the organization’s defiance against the Governor.
“We’re just following the law as it is documented and whatever the law is we will obey it.
“The idea that we have somehow defied the governor is false because her order did not affect the already existing Arizona law regarding this issue,” he said.
According the Department of Homeland Security, an estimated 72,000 undocumented citizens have applied for the program, and as many as 80,000 are eligible in Arizona.
Juan Estito, a student at MCC, says he has friends who can come back to school because they can afford the costs.
“Many of them had to drop out because they couldn’t afford out of state tuition but now many of my friends can come back because of this program. It’s really awesome,” he said.
Attempts were made to reach the Governor’s office for official comment but none were returned.
