Connecticut Senate, House OK Education Bills For Undocumented Students

May 20, 2015
  • Industry News

The Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that would allow the children of undocumented immigrants to apply for college tuition assistance, even though they lack a Social Security card and other documents required to fill out financial aid forms.

"I'm ecstatic,'' said Alison Martinez-Carrasco, a 21-year-old junior at UConn who came to Hartford from Ecuador with her parents at age 4. "This bill directly affects me. ... I now have something to help me with tuition."

Martinez-Carrasco and other advocates for undocumented students watched from the Senate gallery as the 24-12 vote was announced.

"College access is really important," Stefan Keller, a volunteer with Connecticut Students For a Dream, said afterward. "This makes it fair, so that everyone can have that chance."

Read more at The Hartford Courant: http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-undocumented-immigrants-in-state-tuition-0520-20150519-story.html