Last Friday, Governor JB Pritzker signed into law a bill to allow undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition at public universities. The measure took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature.
When presented in the General Assembly this spring, the bill passed out of both chambers on party lines; House Minority Leader Tony McCombie voted “No.”
Several concerns about the initiative were brought to light during the bill’s debate including concerns about fairness, legal consistency, and the use of public resources. The legislation also comes after previous legal challenges involving Illinois’ policies on tuition eligibility for undocumented students, making it the latest development in the state’s ongoing debate over access to higher education.
The new law is now in effect.