Immigrant students living in Missouri illegally could not receive scholarships or in-state tuition under a bill approved Wednesday by the state House, a measure that Republicans tout as needed to protect resources for U.S. citizens but Democrats call "discrimination."
At issue are students who qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, created by President Barack Obama in 2012 to stop the deportation of children who were brought to the country illegally by their parents. Missouri had about 6,000 to 7,000 K-12 such students in 2012, according to the Pew Research Center.
The Missouri bill, approved 111-41, would stop a new state Department of Higher Education rule set to take effect March 30 that clarifies those immigrant students can receive the A+ Scholarship.
Those who graduate from a Missouri high school with at least a 2.5 grade-point average, good attendance and satisfy various other requirements would qualify for the A+ Scholarship under the new rule.
But money for that program already is strained, and students receiving the scholarship for the current semester will need to pay for one credit, Higher Education Department spokeswoman Liz Coleman said.
Bill sponsor Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick said granting the scholarship to immigrant students will "reduce benefits paid to Missouri citizens." The bill also would require colleges and universities charge those students the international rate of tuition.
"If they're allowed to receive these scholarships, it will be at the expense of Missouri citizens," the Shell Knob Republican said.
Democrats said the legislation hurts students who want an education and are here without legal permission through no fault of their own.
"We are enacting discrimination," Democratic Rep. Genise Montecillo of St. Louis said.
Montecillo also criticized a provision of the bill that would expand the A+ Scholarship to students who study theology and divinity, which she said violates the constitution by promoting religion.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where debate on another version stalled Wednesday following a proposed amendment to guarantee in-state tuition to students, including immigrants without legal status, who attend high school in Missouri and meet other requirements.
Similar language to ban scholarships for some immigrants also is included in the current version of the budget for next fiscal year, which won initial approval in the House on Tuesday.