The 2002 law allows students participating in at least three years of high school in California to receive the same tax breaks given in the State of California citizens, regardless of their status as immigrants. The lower fees can save students thousands of dollars per year. For example, students in the state pay nearly $ 24,000 per year to attend the University of California, about $ 17,000 more than California residents. The action was filed in Yolo County, on behalf of 42 plaintiffs, including two children of a former congressman from San Diego. Nine UC Davis student is the largest group seeking a campus.
Lawyers for the defendants that the discriminatory policy affects 60,000 students from out-of-state to pay higher taxes than the state of illegal immigrants. Candidates seeking damages. The class is bigger every year because every year thousands of law-abiding freshmen enter our system, said Redwood City attorney Michael Brady. It is a federal law, the appellants contend, in particular the Member bars offer benefits to illegal immigrants without also making available to U.S. citizens. California is one of nine states with laws on blacks students obtain lower prices for state education. Lawsuit filed in federal court in Kansas challenging that state law was dismissed but is being appealed.
To qualify for the state rate, students attended high school in California for at least three years, must graduate from high school in California and must sign a declaration saying they will seek to become legal residents as soon as possible. Suzanne Kattija-Ari, 23, a UC Davis veterinary student from Hawaii whose father immigrated from Thailand in the 1970s, said the fee break is unfair to those who obey the law, but end up paying more than their illegal counterparts. She said she had to work several part-time jobs and student loans to pay high fees outside the state. It’s not so much that they got that advantage and we do not, it’s just the injustice of it, she said. They are 18 now. They should do the right thing, apply for citizenship.