Democrats in Albany Propose Giving Illegal Immigrants Access to Aid for College

Responding to more than two years of lobbying by immigrants’ advocates, the Democratic majority in the New York State Assembly threw its support on Wednesday behind a comprehensive bill that would make state financial aid available to illegal immigrants at colleges and universities. The bill would open up several state tuition-assistance programs to illegal immigrants and create a private scholarship fund to help pay for their higher education. Elements of the legislation had been proposed in piecemeal in past legislative sessions but had not become law. As a result, immigrants’ advocates stepped up their campaign for a more comprehensive and streamlined strategy, centered on a single measure with several provisions. The Democrats introduced the bill as the immigration debate shifts to the top of the national agenda.