Sen. Guglielmo: “There will be losers in this legislation.”

May 25, 2011

Hartford, CT – The Senate passed bill 6390: AN ACT CONCERNING ACCESS TO POST SECONDARY EDUCATION allowing illegal immigrants to get instate tuition when applying for college.

Senator Tony Guglielmo gave an impassioned plea on the Senate floor against this bill, at one point referring to his two grand children, who are here legally (one from Guatemala the other from China) and how they may lose out on a slot at one of the state schools because of this legislation.

Sen. Guglielmo speaks out against instate tuition for illegal immigrants: “There will be losers in this bill.”

“I know the difference between legal and illegal. There are going to be winners and losers in this,” said Senator Tony Guglielmo (R-Stafford). “I don’t understand why my Elizabeth and my Andrew have to be losers in this? They came here legally.”

Right now at UCONN tuition for in state students is $8,064. Out of state tuition is $24,528.

This bill extends in-state tuition benefits to college students who are living in Connecticut illegally. Under the bill, a person qualifies for in-state tuition if he or she:

  • Resides in Connecticut;
  • Attended any educational institution in the state and completed at least four years of high school here;
  • Graduated from a high school in Connecticut, or the equivalent; and
  • Is registered as an entering student, or is currently a student at, UCONN, a Connecticut State University, a community-technical college, or Charter Oak State College.

According to the bill people here illegally who meet the above criteria, must file an affidavit with the college stating that they have applied to legalize their immigration status or will do so as soon as they are is eligible to apply.

The State Office of Legislative Research says currently, such persons who apply for student visas or lawful permanent resident status can be deported under federal law. Thus, they are not eligible to apply to legalize their status unless federal law is amended. This could conceivably be a target for deportation.

“We are going about this in the wrong way,” said Senator Tony Guglielmo (R-Stafford)

With the passage of this bill 21 in favor 14 against, the legislation will head to the Governor’s desk and Connecticut will become the 13th state in the nation to offer in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens.