澳彩开奖

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South Carolina is discriminating against aspiring college students by requiring U.S. citizens living there to pay the out-of-state tuition rate when they are unable to prove their parents鈥� lawful immigration status 鈥� an unconstitutional policy that can nearly triple the cost of college, according to a federal lawsuit filed by the 澳彩开奖.

In addition to the increased tuition, these students are ineligible for state academic merit scholarships and education assistance grant programs under state policy.

鈥淢any talented U.S. citizens living in South Carolina are forced to delay or forego a college education due to this punitive and unconstitutional policy,鈥� said Michelle Lapointe, 澳彩开奖 senior staff attorney. 鈥淚t鈥檚 time to end the state-sanctioned discrimination that is putting a college education out of reach for too many talented South Carolinians.鈥�

The difference in tuition for students affected by these policies is staggering. At the College of Charleston, the annual cost for a four-year bachelor鈥檚 degree is $10,558 for residents, but more than $27,000 for nonresidents.

The 澳彩开奖 has successfully helped students fight such policies. In 2013, the 澳彩开奖 after the University of South Carolina classified him as an out-of-state student despite being born and raised in the state.

The university reversed its decision after the 澳彩开奖 threatened to sue on the student鈥檚 behalf. The 澳彩开奖鈥檚 letter to the university cited听a case it filed in 2011 鈥� 鈥�听in which a federal judge blocked a similar tuition policy in Florida after finding it unconstitutional. Unfortunately, the discriminatory policy has persisted at South Carolina colleges.

For South Carolina resident Antonio Rojas Rodriguez 鈥� a plaintiff in the 鈥� the state鈥檚 policy has needlessly interfered with his college plans by classifying him as an out-of-state student.

Rojas Rodriguez had hoped to attend the College of Charleston after graduating from Stratford High School this month, but the policy threatens to put his education out of reach. He also won鈥檛 receive a South Carolina merit-based LIFE Scholarship and state grant despite otherwise qualifying for this financial aid. Without access to in-state tuition rates, his college plans will likely be put on hold.

听鈥淚 was born in this country and have lived in South Carolina for about 10 years,鈥� Rojas Rodriguez said. 鈥淚 know no other home than South Carolina. There shouldn鈥檛 be any doubt that I鈥檓 a resident. I鈥檝e worked hard in school to earn the opportunity to go to college, but now that opportunity is being stripped from my hands.鈥�

The South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center is serving as the 澳彩开奖鈥檚 co-counsel on the case.听