Out-of-State Tuition Waivers Stopped for Undocumented Ga. Students

ATLANTA—The Georgia Board of Regents is taking action to guarantee undocumented students are not charged the cheaper in-state tuition fee reserved for the state’s residents.

Though illegal immigrants are allowed to attend public college in Georgia, they are required to pay out-of-state tuition, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

A new committee, which includes five regents and four university presidents, will look into the most effective and economical ways to verify a student’s citizenship. In October, the committee will recommend ways to prevent or catch undocumented students from receiving in-state tuition prices.

Additionally, the board approved a measure that prevents university presidents from consenting to in-state tuition fee waivers to undocumented students. Another measure gives colleges 60 days to review the applications of all first-time students for the upcoming fall semester to ensure undocumented students do not receive in-state tuition or other aid prohibited under law.

The issue of undocumented students was raised when Kennesaw State University student Jessica Colotl, who entered the country illegally when she was 10, was stopped for a traffic violation in March. When her citizenship status was discovered, immigration authorities began deportation proceedings; however, she was given a one-year pardon so she could complete her degree.

Colotl, who had been paying in-state tuition fees because university officials were unaware of her status, will now be charged out-of-state tuition.

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