Maryland approves state ‘Dream Act’ for illegal immigrants
Students brought to the United States illegally as children, who now want to pursue higher education here have won their battle for in-state tuition breaks at the state’s public colleges and universities.
“This means so much to me, my parents and my family — who are the other dreamers,” Nathaly Uribe, a senior at Glen Burnie High School who was 2 when her parents brought her from Chile, said while keeping an eye on election results at the Mexican restaurant on South Broadway. “This will give all of us a chance.”
The initiative, called Question 4, says undocumented students can attend community college as long as students graduate from high school and meet income tax, permanent residency and selective service registration requirements. Then, with 60 credit hours or a degree from a community college, those students can enroll at a four-year public school with in-state tuition rates.
The law had passed the Legislature and was signed by Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley before opponents mounted a petition drive with more than 100,000 signatures that forced the issue to the ballot box for approval.
After the results came in on Tuesday night, Casa de Maryland, which claims to be the largest immigrant advocacy group in Maryland, tweeted, “WE DID IT!!!! OUR DREAM CAME TRUE!!!”
“Tonight, Marylanders chose to make the dream of a college education a reality for every child by voting for DREAM,” O’Malley said in his own tweet.
Opponents worried that the new allowances would entice more undocumented immigrants to move to Maryland.
Photo: Screenshot of ABC coverage of election – here
