“The thing you have to remember most is this will directly impact hundreds of thousands of people’s lives. So, please flip that ballot, and vote yes on 308.” – Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-7)
PHOENIX, AZ – Today, U.S. Representative Ruben Gallego and Arizona Democratic Party Chair Raquel Terán joined the Yes On 308 campaign, Phoenix area business, community, and faith leader and Arizona Dreamers to urge Arizonans to vote yes on proposition 308, a ballot initiative which, once passed by voters, will allow Arizona high school graduates regardless of immigration status to pay the same in-state tuition rate as their peers to attend Arizona colleges and universities.
As prop 308 appears on the bottom back of the Arizona ballot, speakers also urged voters filling out ballots to “FLIP their ballots and VOTE YES on Prop 308.”
U.S. Representative Ruben Gallego said: “I believe that education is a critical part of anyone’s development, and that you never close the door on a student who works hard and wants to learn and pursue higher education.
He continued: “Being an Arizonan kid is about growing up here, attending our schools, our churches, our little league games, and singing in our choirs. And because I know that we are all thinking about the economy also, know that Prop. 308 will result in no new taxes. The conservative state budget review committee noted that this proposal would have ZERO impact on the state budget; that means it will cost taxpayers nothing extra to do this and the state’s economy will benefit. The thing you have to remember most is this will directly impact hundreds of thousands of people’s lives. So, please flip that ballot and vote yes on 308.”
“Dreamers are Arizona kids. We have educated them in our schools since they were children and they offered and have a lot more to offer to our great state. Our community of leaders that care about Arizona’s future, understand that Prop 308 will benefit our young Dreamer students, our economy, and Arizona as a whole.” said Raquel Terán, Arizona Democratic Party Chair.
“As a business owner, I understand the importance of having a talented, diverse, and well educated workforce. Passing prop 308 would allow members of one of our state’s hardest working individuals – Dreamers – to pay the same instate tuition rate as the peers they graduate with,” ,” said Stephanie Vasquez, owner of Fair Trade Cafe, which hosted the event. “It would help them reach their fullest potential and, in the process, it would help our state’s economy and make sure businesses like mine have the best talent available.”
“When Proposition 308 passes this November, it will ensure any person who has lived in Arizona for two or more years and graduated from an Arizona high school will pay the same tuition rates to attend Arizona state colleges and universities,” said American Business Immigration Coalition Action Arizona Director Carlos Alfaro. “This campaign has brought together people from all walks of life from elected officials to business leaders, advocacy, education, law enforcement, and faith. All of us, committed to a tuition system that is fair for all of Arizona’s kids.”
“This year is about doing what we do best. Persuading and empowering Latino, immigrant, and allied communities to Vote Yes on 308,” said Mi Familia Vota Arizona State Director Carolina Rodriguez-Greer.” Mi Familia Vota alone is knocking on thousands of doors…At the door, we are reminding voters of a key message, you must flip your ballot over, and vote YES on 308.”
“On 9/11, I was in sixth grade. I remember watching the attack on the World Trade Center and being so angry that all I wanted to do was join the U.S. Marines so I could defend my country. I held onto that dream until my 18th birthday, when I went to enlist. But after I was turned away, my parents finally explained why: I was born in Mexico, not the U.S. That meant that I was undocumented – had no legal status here – and hence was not eligible to enlist. I was devastated. I still am, in fact. I’m a “Dreamer” – one of the millions of undocumented Americans brought here as children,” said Tony Valdovinos, Arizona Dreamer and author of ¡Americano!. “My wish is to one day go to an Arizona school.”
“Undocumented students like me just want to be treated like everyone else. We want a fair shot at a good education. We want the chance to contribute to our communities, including as doctors, nurses, teachers and other professions that Arizona needs,” said Arizona Dreamer and Freshman student at Grand Canyon University Hazel Villatoro.
Background
What would Prop 308 do? Prop 308 would enable any person who has lived in Arizona for two or more years and graduated from an Arizona high school to attend Arizona colleges regardless of their immigration status and pay the same in-state tuition rates. Dreamers – Arizona high school graduates who came to our state as children without documentation – are our students. They deserve the same opportunities as other high school graduates.
Prop. 308 is fairness for all high school students. Each year, college is much less affordable for more than 3,600 Arizona high school graduates who do not qualify for in-state tuition at Arizona state schools. College-bound Dreamers who came to Arizona as children without documentation are currently treated as out-of-state students who must pay triple the in-state tuition rate, even though they graduated from our high schools. Prop. 308 would let Dreamers pay the in-state tuition rate. There is no “cutting in line” and they must pay the same as other Arizona students.
Who qualifies? Anyone who has lived in Arizona for at least two years and graduated from an Arizona high school would be charged the same in-state tuition rates at the state’s public colleges and universities as their fellow Arizona high school graduates. More than 3,600 Arizona students would benefit from an in-state tuition policy every year.
Economic benefits for Arizona: Keeping Arizona’s prospective college graduates in Arizona can only help grow our state’s economy, granting access to in-state tuition to all Arizona graduates is an important step toward meeting critical workforce needs and would greatly benefit the state’s economy.
Research highlights the crucial role that student Dreamers play in Arizona’s economy, including in some of the state’s fastest-growing and most in-demand fields, like healthcare, education, and the skilled trades. Still, the state is facing critical workforce shortages across the skills and education spectrum.
No new taxes: The conservative state budget review committee noted that this proposal would have ZERO impact on the state budget; that means it will cost taxpayers nothing extra to do this and the state’s economy will benefit.
Economic growth: $617.9 Million overall spending power for all of Arizona’s DACA eligible population. Earning a college degree by paying in-state tuition would boost the earnings of Arizona’s Dreamers by more than $28 million annually.
20 States Have passed in-state tuition for Dreamers: Conservative-led states like Florida, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, are among 20 states that have passed in-state tuition for Dreamers and have an advantage over Arizona in the search for top-notch employees.
Prop. 308 reflects Arizona values: Arizonans want to work hard, follow the rules, get a good job and reach their potential. Together, we can ensure all of our high school graduates have a fair shot at becoming productive, tax-paying members of society, no matter what they look like or where they were born. By setting in-state tuition fees for Dreamers, we can keep them in Arizona, the only home they’ve known.
ABOUT
Yes On 308 is a bipartisan campaign led by education, business, faith, and civic leaders seeking to provide all Arizona high school graduates, regardless of their immigration status, the opportunity to pay their own way through college at the in-state tuition rate. Ending the unfair treatment of Arizona’s undocumented high school graduates by allowing equal access to in-state tuition rates at the state colleges and universities will allow them to reach their educational goals, become self-sufficient, and give back to our community.
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