The state's second largest community college district has joined Maricopa Community College's argument for providing in-state tuition to DACA recipients.
Attorney Eileen GilBride with Pima Community College told the Arizona Supreme Court it comes down to two words, "lawfully present," not the words, "lawful immigration status."
That difference she argued is key, because despite the latter being used in arguments against providing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients in-state college tuition, "lawfully present" are the two words currently used in Arizona's state statutes.
The argument over tuition has volleyed between courts, since the DACA program was enacted in 2013.
This year, Attorney General Mark Brnovich brought it to the Court of Appeals, citing the voter approved Proposition 300 law requiring "lawful immigration status" for in-state tuition.
Gilbride said the phrasing is inaccurately interchanged across county websites, which she said, at the very least shows the language on the state statute must be clearly interpreted by the high court.
KJZZ is licensed to the Maricopa County Community College District.
