MEDIA ADVISORY
February 17, 2012

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Day of Action for Tuition Equity at Oregon State Capitol this Tuesday

Salem, Ore. -- Students, parents, teachers, and members of the business, faith, and the higher education community will gather at the Oregon State Capitol on February 21st for a Day of Action in Support of Tuition Equity. Tuition Equity will ensure that every Oregon student, regardless of their immigration status, has fair access to quality and affordable higher education.

The Informational Session and action on Tuesday is the first step to lay the groundwork for introduction and passage of Tuition Equity Legislation in 2013 and to give an opportunity to those who sat on the sidelines last session to join the popular support of this very important legislation for Oregon.

In 2011, Republicans and Democrats in the Oregon State Legislature came together in support of tuition equity. They believed it was right to follow through on an investment in Oregon’s students beyond the high-school level, to raise the level of education in Oregon and infuse our public universities with more tuition dollars. Although Oregon’s Historic Tuition Bill SB742 passed the Senate, in the end it was blocked by process and opposition in the House-- failing short by just 5 votes needed for passage.

Join students, parents, teachers, and members of the business, faith, and the higher education community at the Oregon State Capitol this Tuesday, February 21st for Tuition Equity Action Day. There will be an informational session in the House Higher Education hearing room around 4pm.

What: Tuition Equity Action Day: Informational Session, and supporter action day

Where: Oregon State Capitol, 900 Court Street Northeast, Salem, OR

When: February 21, 2012 3:30 to 5:30pm.

Supporters of Tuition Equity will gather to show that students, teachers, faith leaders, business owners and community members believe in the future of our students.

FACTS
Tuition Equity will ensure that every Oregonian has fair access to quality and affordable higher education. It will also make it possible for ALL Oregon Students, regardless of their citizenship status, to be able to pay in-state tuition. And besides capitalizing on the investment in Oregon's K-12 students, it would boost the education level of Oregon's workforce and bring in more tax dollars to the state's general fund.

To qualify for in-state tuition, a student must meet the following requirements, regardless of their documentation status:

• They have attended an Oregon high School for at least three (3) years
• They have graduated from an Oregon high school
• They have been admitted to an Oregon University System Institution
• They are working towards residency

Organizations in support of tuition equity legislation include Oregon Student Association (OSA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Oregon Education Association (OEA), Center For Intercultural Organizing (CIO), Causa, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Organization, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Asian Paciic American Network of Oregon (APANO) Associated Oregon Industries, Oregon Business Association, and many others. Andrew Riley, Center for Intercultural Organizing (CIO), 503-287-4117 ext. 106 Erik Sorensen, Causa Oregon, 503-488-0263 Emily McLain, Oregon Students Association (OSA), 971-221-9778

This release comes from the Immigration Policy Center (IPC)  IPC, established in 2003, is the policy arm of the American Immigration Council. IPC's mission is to shape a rational conversation on immigration and immigrant integration.

Restrictive State Immigration Laws:
Questions Answered and Lessons Learned

February 12, 2012

Washington D.C. - This session, state legislatures around the country, including those in Mississippi and Kansas, are again considering harsh immigration-control laws. These laws are intended to make everyday life so difficult for unauthorized immigrants that they will choose to “self-deport” to their home countries. However, experience from states that have previously passed restrictive immigration laws, like Arizona and Alabama, shows that these laws can hinder prospects for economic growth and cost taxpayers millions to implement, defend and enforce.

The Immigration Policy Center is releasing two publications that explain the wide range of issues associated with these restrictive state immigration laws:

• Q&A Guide to State Immigration Laws: What You Need to Know if Your State is Considering Anti-Immigrant Legislation (IPC Special Report, Updated February, 2010)

This updated guide provides key answers to basic questions about state immigration-related laws—from the substance of the legislation and myths surrounding the debate to the legal and fiscal implications. As other states contemplate legislation, knowing the answers to these basic questions is critically important in furthering a rational discussion.

•  Bad for Business: How Harsh Anti-Immigration Legislation Drains Budgets and Damages States’ Economies (IPC Fact Check, February, 2012)

This paper outlines some of the economic and fiscal lessons from states that have passed harsh immigration-control legislation.

Check out our February video report from Francisco Lopez, Causa's Executive Director:

(in English)

(en Español)

[ http://www.youtube.com/embed/wuLpla3CR8k ]