The Arizona Supreme Court ruled on Monday that young immigrants granted deferred deportation status by a program started by former President Barack Obama are not eligible for in-state college tuition.
The unanimous ruling from the seven-member court stems from a lawsuit brought by the Maricopa Community Colleges District, which wanted to give in-state tuition to students who had been brought to the country illegally as children.
In a five-paragraph order signed by Chief Justice Scott Bales, the court indicates all of its members agree that existing state and federal laws do not allow the community college district to grant in-state tuition to recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
The court said it issued its brief order in order to allow colleges and students affected as much time as possible to plan. The court will issue a full ruling May 14, the order said.
More than 2,000 DACA recipients are enrolled in Arizona public colleges and universities, according to the lawsuit. As a result of the ruling, those students’ tuition will more than double.
EDITOR'S NOTE: KJZZ is licensed to the the Maricopa County Community College District.
