Illegal immigrants living in Minnesota could have their college tuition comped by the state under a newly passed law.
Students who are in the country illegally and who also fill out a Minnesota Dream Act application will be automatically considered for the free college program, known as the North Star Promise, according to Scripps News.
The only precluding factors for the program are if the students come from a household that makes more than $80,000 per year or if the students attended a private school.
The program goes into effect for the 2024-25 school year and applies to colleges under the University of Minnesota or Minnesota State umbrella.
“We want to make sure that when we’re expanding opportunities for everybody, we’re doing it for all Minnesotans, regardless of background, regardless of their documentation status,” Senate Higher Education Chairman Omar Fateh told Axios.
Students receiving the state funding must remain in good academic standing while in school. American students are also eligible to benefit from the North Star Promise if they fill out the right form and meet the requirements.
Free tuition for illegal immigrants was included in the biannual higher education bill, which passed by narrow margins in Minnesota’s House (69-63) and Senate (34-30) last month. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed the bill shortly afterward.
Roughly 81,000 illegal immigrants live in Minnesota, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
* Article From: The Washington Times
