Bill seeks in-state tuition for some immigrants

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Indiana lawmakers are considering rolling back the state's two-year-old immigration law so that illegal immigrants who were attending public colleges then would again be eligible for in-state tuition rates.

An Indiana University official estimates it has about 200 current or former students who could be eligible.

Bill sponsor Sen. Jean Leising of Oldenburg says the change would be a sign of fairness to those students, many of whom came to Indiana as young children. She says illegal immigrants still couldn't receive state college financial aid and new students wouldn't be eligible for in-state tuition.

Some immigrant students told the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday that they had to quit college after their tuition bills tripled.

The committee voted 8-4 to approve the bill, sending it to the full Senate.