Eva wants nothing more than to go to an Iowa university. But the 21-year-old has one problem: She is an undocumented immigrant.
The Marshalltown High graduate, who asked not to be named because of her immigration status, must pay thousands more in out-of-state tuition if she wants to pursue higher education — a price the Tijuana, Mexico, native cannot afford.
“It’s really frustrating,” she said. “I really want to go to school.”
A bill in the Iowa House Education Committee could change that.
The bill — the Iowa Opportunities and Workforce Act — would allow undocumented immigrants more access to higher education by charging them the same in-state tuition as their classmates and friends.
Under the bill, students would be required to attend at least five years of school in Iowa, graduate from an Iowa high school, and sign an affidavit stating they will apply for legal status as soon as eligible.
