N.J. Governor Agrees to In-State Tuition for Immigrant Students

The New Jersey Legislature approved a bill on Thursday that would allow students who grew up in New Jersey but are in the United States illegally to pay in-state college tuition, and Gov. Chris Christie plans to sign the measure into law on Friday, according to The New York Times and The Star-Ledger.

The legislation would permit immigrant students who graduated from New Jersey high schools after attending for at least three years to be eligible for the lower in-state rates.

Mr. Christie, a Republican, had said during his re-election campaign that he supported the idea of tuition equality. But activists later accused him of going back on his word when he raised concerns about the legislation, including a provision that would have made those students eligible for state financial-aid programs. In a deal with the governor reached on Thursday, Democrats in the Legislature agreed to strike that provision.

Sixteen other states have provisions allowing in-state tuition for immigrant students, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.