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DACA Activists Appeal To Ducey Ahead Of Arizona Supreme Court Case On In-State Tuition

Ana Karen Ascencio is a DACA recipient and college student who wants to become a lawyer.
(Photo by Matthew Casey - KJZZ)
Ana Karen Ascencio is a DACA recipient and college student who wants to become a lawyer.

The Arizona Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Monday in a lawsuit to block immigrants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program from paying in-state college tuition, and activists made a last-minute request for Gov. Doug Ducey to drop the case.

When the small group led by Arizona Dream Act Coalition got to the governor’s office Friday morning, the receptionist said Ducey wasn’t there. Instead, members of the governor’s staff met with the group, received a letter for the governor and spoke with Ana Karen Ascencio.

Ducey should take a stand for undocumented immigrants brought to United States as children, said the 18-year-old DACA recipient and college student who wants to become a lawyer.

“ASU, U of A, community colleges — Maricopa Community Colleges — they’re fighting for us,” Ascencio said. “So why can’t he fight for us?”

The state sued the Maricopa County Community College District for offering in-state tuition to DACA recipients. The District won in Superior Court, but the state won the appeal. The Arizona Supreme Court will break the tie.

EDITOR’S NOTE: KJZZ is licensed to the Maricopa County Community College District.

Matthew Casey has won Edward R. Murrow awards for hard news and sports reporting since he joined KJZZ as a senior field correspondent in 2015.