DPS Board Members Support Tuition Equality for Illegal Students
Denver, CO 802023
United States of America
The vote, 6-0, was in favor of a resolution for tuition equality. The resolution will allow students who were brought to the U.S. illegally, but graduated from a Colorado high school, to pay in-state tuition fees. They currently pay out-of-state tuition fees, which are twice the amount of in-state tuition.
This issue has been a thorn in the side of illegal students since 2002, when former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo tried to have Jesus Apodaca and his family deported.
Apodeca, who graduated with a 3.93 GPA and honors from Aurora Central High School in Aurora, Colorado, wanted to attend the University of Colorado, but did not want to pay out-state-tuition. Apodeca caught the attention of Rep. Tencredo after he appeared in an Aug. 11 Denver Post story about how federal law prevents colleges from offering financial aid or in-state tuition to illegal immigrants.
After Rep. Tancredo read the story, he called INS to demand that Apodeca and his family be deported immediately. Tancredo was said to be outraged by Apodeca's comments on the immigration laws. He told the paper that he and his family could not afford to pay the nearly $7,000 per semester, Tacredo felt that Apodeca was mocking immigration laws.
Fortunately, for Apodeca and his family, former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Cambell and Sen. Edward Kennedy intervened on his behalf. Nighthorse Cambell created legislation to allow Apodeca and his family to become legal citizens. Apodeca was enrolled at CU-Denver, in the College of Engineering and Science, at the time.
According to a July 11, 2008 San Francisco Chronicle story, Apodeca and his family were apprehended and slated for deportation. No further information is available.
Sources:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article/article?f=/c/a/2008/06/11/ED4C116SA0.DTL
http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20020929/WORLDSAPART/109290042
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/19/dps-backs-tuition-equity/
Published by Sonya Simpkins
In my freetime, I like to hang out with my dog Scout, watch a good movie or have a few beers with friends. View profile
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