Arizona’s clash over illegal immigration and college tuition

In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down most of Arizona’s S.B. 1070, a tough — and controversial — state immigration law.  In the November election, Arizona votes weigh a very different kind of immigration ballot measure. 

Juan Perez Jr. for Politico analyzes Arizona’s Proposition 308, which would allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities:

“Undocumented Arizona high school graduates can receive in-state university and community college tuition if Proposition 308 wins approval in November. Fired-up Latino organizers and prominent business interests back the measure. A handful of Republicans helped push the initiative onto the state’s action-packed midterm ballot. A lifelong conservative even chairs supporters’ well-funded political action committee.

— But Yes on 308 promoters face entrenched opposition from voters who are incensed about the border crisis and see immigration as a top issue in the election. Arizona’s conservative politics boast a deep record of hostility toward undocumented migrants . . . .”

Latino activists have been hard at work in Arizona.  Stay tuned to see how the midterms turn out.

KJ