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Patrick Again Backs Immigrant Tuition Bill

Gov. Deval Patrick is renewing his support for a proposal to allow immigrant students without legal status in Massachusetts to pay the same tuition rate at public colleges as legal residents.

Patrick stopped by a Wednesday hearing at the State House to back a bill that would let the students pay the lower in-state rate provided that they've attended high school in Massachusetts for at least three years.

The students would also have to sign an affidavit stating that they've applied for permanent residency or citizenship, or plan to within three months of qualifying.

Critics of similar proposals say illegal immigrants shouldn't be offered the same benefits as citizens or others in the state legally.

Supporters say many of the immigrant students were brought here as young children by their parents.

This program aired on July 20, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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