HARTFORD Conn.
Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell on Tuesday vetoed a bill that would have extended favorable in-state tuition rates at Connecticut’s public colleges and universities to children of illegal immigrants.
While Rell said she is sympathetic to the plight of the students, she said they are living in the U.S. illegally and she does not want to encourage people to circumvent federal immigration laws.
“I understand these students are not responsible for their undocumented status, having come to the U.S. with their parents,” Rell said in a written statement. “The fact remains, however, that these students and their parents are here illegally and neither sympathy nor good intentions can ameliorate that fact.”
The bill passed the Senate 21-15 and the House of Representatives 77-68, making it doubtful the Democratic majority will attempt to override the veto.
Rep. Felipe Reinoso, D-Bridgeport, a Peruvian immigrant who sponsored the bill, said he had held out hope that Rell would sign the proposal into law.
“I feel sad deeply, deeply disappointed,” said Reinoso, who estimated the bill would have helped about 200 to 250 students. “The kids are paying the consequences.”
