Immigration News & Opinion
Sat - May 19, 2012

New York Times, January 25. State University of New York trustees unanimously approved on Wednesday a resolution supporting a plan to offer state-sponsored tuition assistance, grants and scholarships to college-bound illegal immigrants who want to enroll in state schools. 'The current demographic realities of New York State indicate that many of the brightest and hardest-working students eligible to enroll at SUNY are of undocumented status, and it is imperative that SUNY remain accessible to these students,' H. Carl McCall, chairman of the board of trustees, said in a statement. The resolution adds the State University of New York to the growing roster of supporters for several bills circulating in Albany that would extend financial benefits to illegal immigrants, toppling what has perhaps been their greatest barrier to acquiring a college diploma. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, the New York City Council, the City University system and New York University recently threw their support behind the cause; in December, the state’s Education Department sent its own proposal to the Legislature.