DACA Recipients Lose On Tuition In Arizona State Supreme Court

PHOENIX, AZ – It didn't take long for the Arizona state Supreme Court to rule that Arizona residents protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program are not entitled to in-state tuition when they attend state schools. The unanimous decision by the court was announced by Attorney General Mark Bronovich, who was fighting against the immigrants.

The decision came in an appeal brought by the Maricopa County Community College District, which had granted the lower tuition to students.

Bronovich tweeted that the court will release its full decision on May 14.

"The Supreme Court of Arizona has made an incredibly wrong and damaging decision," said Belen Sisa, a DACA recipient, Arizona State University student, and leading activist.

"The impacts of this will continue to haunt undocumented students and DACA recipients in Arizona for generations and that is completely unacceptable."

Sisa's parents brought her to Arizona when she was 6-years-old and overstayed their visa. (Get Phoenix Patch's daily newsletter and real-time news alerts. Or, find your local Patch here and subscribe).

"It is so disappointing to continuously be attacked by the place that we call home and the only public education system we know," she said. "It is a sad day in Arizona today, but we will not give up."

The court's ruling could mean that students will see their tuition double if not triple.

The judges said that since there is no current law specifically allowing the granting of the lower tuition, to do so would be illegal.

They added that there is nothing preventing the state from passing a law that would allow it.

There are approximately 2,000 recipients of DACA protections attending Arizona schools.

DACA has allowed people to work and study in the United States, even get driver's licenses. Some states allow them to pay in-state tuition.

University of Arizona President Robert Robbins said that while he is "disappointed" with the ruling, the school will comply with it.

""At the same time, we continue to encourage Congress to create a legislative solution that provides certainty for all DACA students in achieving their educational potential."

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Photo via Belen Sisa.