Immigrant Student Audit Requested by State Senator

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) The former chair of an education committee at the State Legislature requested an investigation into the cost of educating children in Utah - in particular the cost of educating the children of undocumented immigrants. State Senator Margaret Dayton says she was prompted to request the audit after similar concerns were raised at a recent Utah Republican Party convention:

"If businesses are going to continue to empower illegal immigration by hiring illegal immigrants, than we need to know the impact that will have on education and plan accordingly," says Dayton.

The Utah Hispanic/Latino Legislative Task Force has filed a complaint against the audit, fearing that it will single out immigrant children. Federal law requires states to educate all children, regardless of citizenship status. Senate President John Valentine says the legislative audit will most likely be a tool to pressure Congress for immigration reform:

"We recognize there is an additional cost of having undocumented people in the state we have to educate," says Valentine. "It's valid information to know what those costs are so when we negotiate with the federal government,they can see what burdens are being placed on states."

Valentine says Dayton originally requested the audit last year when, as chair of the House Education Committee, she voted in support of a measure to revoke in-state tuition benefits from undocumented college students. However, Dayton's legislative focus has not been immigration, but rather bucking the effects of federal education mandates like No Child Left Behind. Work on the legislative audit has just begun.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom, Legislative Coverage, and 2007 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2008 KCPW