A bill offering limited in-state tuition has been introduced in Georgia’s Legislative Assembly, which would offer in-state tuition to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients (a smaller population than all Dreamers), those under 30 years old, living in Georgia since 2013, and who have graduated from a Georgia high school or with a Georgia GED. This legislation would immediately benefit 15,000 students who may want to pursue higher education.
The proposed legislation, however, is limited to DACA recipients, and will not assist most Dreamers who are graduating from high school in Georgia in the next several years. This is because most current K-12 undocumented students are ineligible for DACA, as they came to the U.S. after 2007, the latest residency date at which an individual can request DACA. Legislation that allows all Dreamers in Georgia to access in-state tuition rates would not only benefit thousands more rising college-age students, but would boost the state’s economic growth, bolster the future workforce, and allow students with strong ties to Georgia to continue contributing to their communities and building their lives here.
Tuition equity is truly an investment for all Georgians: it helps more young people invest in their futures with higher education and further training, and makes Georgia a stronger state with their education and training, paid back to the state when graduates stay, work, and pay taxes.