Tallahassee, Florida - Supporters of legislation that would give in-state tuition rates to undocumented immigrants in Florida are making one last ditch effort for the idea.
Backers of the legislation lined up outside the Senate chamber at the state Capitol on Wednesday and called on lawmakers to open their hearts to the plan.
The bill would grant in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants who attend a Florida high school for three years or graduate from a Florida high school. It would also offer the lower tuition to immigrants already enrolled in a state college or university.
Supporters of the bill estimate about 5,000 undocumented immigrants graduate from Florida's high schools each year. But current law forces them to pay out-of-state tuition to attend college, which is about three times more expensive.
Evelyn Rivera is one of those students. She moved to Florida from Colombia when she was three, attended all public schools, but was asked to pay out-of-state tuition when she wanted to enroll at Florida State.
Rivera says her situation is especially tough because she has two sisters who are able to get in-state tuition.
"It's very hard to see that in the same family that I don't get the same privileges and rights as my sisters do and as my fellow peers that I attended high school with here in Florida. So I'm here to make sure that our legislators really hear our voice and open up their hearts and vote for SB 106 and House Bill 81."
Rep. Hazel Rogers says it's time to do the right thing.
"There are other states throughout this country that provide in-state tuition rates and why not Florida. Why not Florida. It is time for Florida to do the right thing by reinvesting in our children. Let them continue to be the best they can be because we have already invested in them."
Rep. Gwyndolen Clarke says the current law is an injustice.
"It's just unconscionable that people would allow you to have to pay out-of-state tuition. You were born here. You belong to us. You are members of this humanity and we need to treat you with dignity. So I'm asking all of my legislators to go forward and pass this bill."
The legislation passed one committee last year, but has not received a hearing during the current legislative session.