Board of Regents: Arizona Dreamers to get in-state university tuition rates
May 7, 2015, 11:27 AM | Updated: 2:34 pm
PHOENIX — The Arizona Board of Regents has voted to grant in-state tuition fees to young immigrants with deferred deportation status at its three universities.
Earlier in the week, a Maricopa County judge ruled that the group were eligible for the lower college fee but only at the community college level.
In a statement Thursday released after the decision, the board said it remained “committed to affordable access to higher education for all eligible students.”
In another statement, Gov. Doug Ducey said he was frustrated by the board’s decision.
“But given the current status of legal decisions, I understand and accept why the regents decided as they did,” the statement read.
The difference between resident and nonresident tuition can add up to thousands of dollars, depending on how many classes are taken each semester.
President Barack Obama instituted the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals in 2012.
The rest of the statement read:
“The board is also committed to compliance with state and federal law.
“The Maricopa County Superior Court has ruled that a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipient who presents an Employment Authorization Document and who meets Arizona law residency requirements is eligible for resident tuition. (State of Arizona v. Maricopa County Community College District
“The Arizona Board of Regents will interpret its policies in accordance with this ruling. This will allow DACA students with an Employment Authorization Document who meet the statutory and policy requirements for residency to establish in-state residency for tuition purposes at our Arizona universities.”