Arizona passed a law giving qualified undocumented students who have graduated from an Arizona high school eligibility for in-state tuition for their state universities. Arizona voters passed the measure giving some DACA visa holders this option to provide university access.

To qualify, high school graduates must have lived in the state for over two years without legal immigration status. It’s estimated over 3,600 current high school graduates will enroll in one of the Arizona state universities, adding over $28 million to the university system’s annual earnings. The policy has been promoted over the last two years and in this latest election cycle was passed. The policy was supported by members of both political parties.

DACA holders now have the opportunity to continue their education and employment where they have lived. The final count of votes has not yet been completed but per the Arizona Secretary of State, the votes counted reliably state the motion has passed. Arizona is the latest state to offer undocumented high school graduates access to in-state tuition rates. Other states that offer a similar program include California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Texas, Virginia, and a handful of other states.

However, a Texas federal judge recently found that one of their state universities, the University of North Texas, couldn’t charge out-of-state U.S. students more than in-state undocumented students. That finding is being reviewed by the Fifth Circuit.

While the outcome in Arizona is indeed a good one, ultimately, the U.S. Congress must enact legislation for DACA and other undocumented students to stay in the U.S. on a permanent basis. DACA remains under litigation at this time, with the federal government unable to grant DACA status to new applicants.

If you have questions about your DACA status, how it may impact attending a U.S. university, or any other immigration-related issue, contact us at ILBSG. We actively monitor ongoing immigration updates and work closely with our clients to ensure they get the right advice.

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