Man Women scholarship Migration

Craig Keller, who runs the respected Washington, a group of citizens to discourage illegal immigration in the state, said taxpayers should not be responsible for the education of these children - especially in tough economic times.

"The children of illegal immigrants have benefited from the wealth of free education in the U.S.," he said. "The government does not owe them or anyone - legal or not - a college education."

Education in danger

The Kent-Meridian senior, who asked that her name be withheld because of their immigration status, was on a school visit to the University of Washington in October, when he first heard that she could qualify for College Bound.

Professor of Mill Creek Middle School who encouraged her to complete the scholarship form in the eighth grade was probably not aware of their immigration status, he said. It is used to encourage good students to apply.

Kent-Meridian, she has a 3.8 GPA and enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program, an initiative that high-achieving students worldwide to prepare for college.

His father works in construction and his mother in a restaurant. Without a scholarship, said would not be able to pay for her to study, in particular the University of Washington, where she hoped to attend. A few private foundations and organizations offer scholarships to its students, including the College Success Foundation in Washington.

"I know there is a possibility that I might be able to go," he said. "I look back, and even if I can not, at least I tried. I watch every chance I say."

$ 7.4 million to begin

In the years after the Legislature started to college, there have been nearly 93,967 high school students, according to the Higher Education Coordinating (HEC) Board.

The first group - almost 16,000 who applied for the school years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 - will graduate from high school this year.

At the time that the legislature set aside $ 7.4 million to pay for the program. The Board considers that the amount HEC will offer scholarships to eligible students through the school year ending in 2014.

It is for the legislature to find ways to pay for the program beyond that, the spokesman Gary Larson said.

High school students may enroll in the program using your Social Security number or student identification number. Their families must qualify as low income, you must commit to being good citizens and not commit a crime. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch and foster care are also applicable.

As seniors, students must apply for federal financial aid (FAFSA).

To date, approximately one third of the applicants are College Bound Latinos Sanchez and LEAP state estimates nearly half lack legal immigration.

Lawyers and school counselors, including government officials, have pushed the students eligible to apply to college, regardless of their immigration status. They say they would like everything ready in case of a policy change in Congress or in the Olympia in the country illegally eligible for the scholarship.

But Keller, the respect of Washington said the state should create conditions that these students to leave the country once they graduate from high school - not to stay.

"The funds allocated to fund post-secondary education should be devoted to those who obey the laws and are here legally," he said.

Cited budget problems

LEAP, eight years ago was instrumental in getting the legislature to pass the state college for illegal immigrants to students, urges school board resolutions in support of legislation to happen for these students to be eligible for the state financial assistance.

Three years ago a similar measure was introduced in the legislature, but only received a single hearing before he died.

Three states-California, New Mexico and Texas, and offer financial aid to illegal immigrant students.

Representative Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, D-Seattle, said he supports the same approach to Washington, but recognizes that it is unlikely that this measure would make it through the current legislature. "Our budget situation is almost impossible at this time"