ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Illegal immigrants who meet certain conditions will be able to pay in-state college tuition in Maryland under a bill signed Tuesday by Gov. Martin O’Malley at a time when many other states are taking a harder stance against illegal immigration.
The Democratic governor posed for five sets of photographs during a ceremony to accommodate the large number of supporters in attendance to see one of the high-profile bills signed.
“This will allow us to have a more highly educated workforce in our state,” O’Malley said, during a bill-signing ceremony where he signed scores of other measures.
Supporters cheered the occasion outside the Maryland State House, chanting “Yes, we can,” and “U-S-A!”
Jerry Torres, a 19-year-old who has been following the legislation this year as a member of an immigrant service group in the Washington suburbs called CASA de Maryland, praised the law.
“I’m a legal resident, but I’m doing it for other people, like my friends and some people in my family,” Torres, of Silver Spring, said.
The measure allows undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at public colleges if they complete two years at a community college. Students also will have to show that their parents paid state income taxes. Male students also will be required to sign up for Selective Service to be eligible for the draft.
