State Rep. Kyle Biedermann (R-Fredericksburg) has introduced a bill in the Legislature that would strip 'Dreamers' and other young people who are in the U.S. illegally of their right to pay substantially lower 'in state tuition' at state colleges and universities, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
"I am proud to fight for the taxpayer. Magnet policies that benefit illegal immigrants hurt citizens and those who immigrated here legally" Biedermannn said. "We must remove these magnets and protect our border."
Current Texas law allows any student who graduated from a Texas high school, or who has lived in Texas for three years, as a 'state resident' for terms of in-state tuition.
Biedermann's proposal would add language saying: "A person who is not authorized under federal statute to be present in the United States may not be considered a resident of this state for purposes of this title."
This is a significant benefit to students who qualify for in-state tuition. A year's tuition at the University of Texas at Austin, for exmaple, is about $9800. For students classified as 'out of state,' that cost rises to nearly $35,000.