Higher Education Residency Amendment Passes

Carlos Moreno with Rep. Jordan Teuscher at committee hearing on Jan. 25

Former Salt Lake Community College student, SLCCSA president and Venezuelan asylum seeker, Carlos Moreno recently testified in front of the Utah Legislative Education Committee in favor of a bill that would grant asylum seekers like him the ability to pay in-state tuition at Utah’s institutions of higher education.

“I came to the United States as an international student. During that time, the Venezuelan regime charged me with treason and conspiracy, and I had to apply for political asylum here,” said Carlos. When that happened, his bank account and all his assets back home were frozen. He had no money to pay for school, let alone living expenses. “During that time, you are from nowhere. You are in legal limbo. You are here, but at the same time you are not here.”

The bill, HB102, recently passed in the house legislature, requires that Utah public colleges and universities, such as Salt Lake Community College, to grant in-state tuition to individuals who are not U.S. citizens but have been granted temporary immigration status, including asylum seekers and refugees. Carlos along with others shared their stories and spoke of how difficult the process has been for them.

“When you are an asylee or refugee you have no money to invest in education. You have to spend all your money on food, bills and housing. When a refugee comes to this country with a small suitcase or nothing to start a new life in a new country, with a new language and a new culture; it’s an overwhelming situation. Imagine that scenario plus having to pay tuition that is three times more expensive,” says Carlos. 

Currently, in-state tuition to attend SLCC for one year is about $4,250 and out-of-state tuition costs $13,700. When resettled individuals arrive in Utah they do not immediately qualify for in-state tuition rates. In some cases, it can take five to 10 years after they arrive to qualify despite never having lived in another state. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jordan Teuscher who worked with Carlos in creating this initiative, would allow those students who have been granted or applied for residency status to pay the in-state tuition costs. 

“With these refugees and asylees, these are individuals that essentially have been forced out of their country, through no fault of their own, not really by their choice, and they have landed here in our state. As a general philosophy as a state, we have welcomed them here and want them to integrate into society,” said Rep. Teuscher in the committee hearing on Jan. 25. 

Carlos Moreno with Rep. Jordan Teuscher at committee hearing.

Advocacy Officer Annie Healion with the International Rescue Committee spoke about how many who come to this country as refugees face that barrier of not qualifying for in-state tuition. “While some individuals may wait the year necessary to become eligible for in-state tuition, most will abandon their plans and continue working in survival jobs. When this happens, Utah loses out on the full economic potential these individuals bring to the workforce,” she said.  

Kate Gildea Broderick, director of admissions at SLCC, also attended the hearing and testified in favor of the bill. She has been involved in helping in the process and working through some of the language of the bill. “There are students here that I met with years ago that should be on their way to a university, and they are stuck in a system,” she said. 

She shared a quote that is on the wall of the West Valley campus that says, “Education is a human right, with immense power to transform." Kate continued, "and that's just what I'm asking you today is to continue to do the work to transform our students lives, and their families and their communities; to help us increase access to higher education.”

The House Education Committee unanimously passed the bill, and a substitute bill passed in the House of Representatives, adding an amendment to include those who have applied for permanent resident status. It has been sent to the senate for further review.

“Salt Lake Community College is the home of the asylees and refugee seekers,” says Carlos. “They always have been an institution that creates ways to help refugees, asylees and TPS [Temporary Protected Status] seekers. This bill will open the door for thousands to Utah’s higher education.”