Immediate Release: October 6, 2022
Contact: Nancy Espinoza, (240)701-2777
Virginia Leaders Condemn Anti-Immigrant VA Senator
Morning After Appellate Court Declares DACA Unlawful, Rep from Fredericksburg Announces Plan to Repeal In-State Tuition –
WOODBRIDGE, VA – On the morning after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was unlawfully established, Virginia Senator Bryce Reeves of Fredericksburg announced his intention to introduce legislation that would repeal a popular law that grants Virginia immigrant students access to in-state tuition.
In the 2021 session, HB2123 and SB1387, championed by Senator Jennifer Boysko and Delegate Alfonso Lopez, granted opportunities to all Virginians who want to pursue college or apply for financial assistance, regardless of immigration status. To qualify, students had to attend school, graduate in Virginia and show a history of tax payments by themselves or their parents. Its popular passage was broadly applauded as providing incentive and hope to high schoolers across Virginia.
“Frankly, with DACA-mented students still reeling from the news out of the Fifth Circuit, Reeves’ announcement is like pouring acid on an open wound,” said Luis Aguilar, CASA Virginia Director. “It takes a special kind of “leader” to go after high school students. Divisive politics is not effective governing.”
After the bill became law in 2021, universities and colleges across the Commonwealth began opening their doors to immigrant students paying in-state tuition rates. In a Commonwealth that prides itself on being the best place in the country for business, talented immigrant students – taxpayers all – found their financial burden to attend college significantly reduced.
According to bill sponsor Senator Jennifer Boysko, “We know full well that in Virginia, we have an abundance of jobs and educational opportunities – we don’t need to exclude our hard working undocumented students, most of whom are youth of color. We need all of the young people in Virginia to find success and seek as much education as they can to take on the thousands of available 21 century jobs. We all benefit economically when our children are able to make the most of their talents and hard work. There is no need to put roadblocks in their way. The scarcity argument has been used before – to justify racism. I’m not surprised but I’m disappointed. Pitting students against one another by using this kind of fear mongering attack is neither good for business nor for Virginia. I will continue to fight for all students to succeed.”
“This repeal legislation will harm the lives of hardworking Virginia students,” stated Delegate Alfonso Lopez, the original author of the Virginia DREAM Act. Also stating that this is “pitting communities against each other and actively working to cut off access to higher education for children is ugly, wrong, and not who we are as Virginians.”
Attacks on the bill were particularly painful to Lopez. The child of a previously undocumented father, Delegate Alfonso Lopez worked tirelessly for nine years in the Virginia House of Delegates to enact the Virginia DREAM Act. It remains his proudest achievement as a Member of the General Assembly.
Advocates hope that Reeves, a legislator that describes himself as fighting to protect families and defend Virginia’s most vulnerable children, will reconsider his position and not draft this bill.
“Giving all Virginia students the opportunity to pursue education is something that should be encouraged not taken away,” said Christian Martinez, CASA’s Advocacy Specialist.
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With over 122,000 lifetime Latino, immigrant, and working-class members across 46 US states, CASA is the foremost immigrant organization with offices in Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia and a national immigrant powerhouse. Visit us at www.wearecasa.org and follow us on Twitter at @CASAforall.
