Three years ago, Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation that allows children who were brought to the U.S. illegally to pay in-state tuition at New Jersey's public colleges and universities -- but denied them the ability to help pay for it.

For the families of the half million unauthorized immigrants residing in the Garden State, it must have felt like getting tantalizing close to a college education, only to see the doors slammed shut in their faces.

In the 2013 legislation, the Legislature agreed to allow immigrants without proper documentation who had lived in New Jersey for three years to qualify for in-state tuition -- a significant savings.

But then the catch: The legislation initially involved two parts: one guaranteeing tuition equity for unauthorized immigrants, the other allowing these students to benefit from financial aid available through the state's Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.

In an unfortunate piece of political choreography, the governor rejected the second component of the bill, forcing Democrats into an awkward position. To ensure that at least one portion of the bill would see the light of day -- that is, in-state tuition rates -- the lawmakers agreed to scuttle the other.

The move essentially puts college out of reach to some of New Jersey's brightest young men and women, products of our state's educational system who even at the lower rates cannot scrape together the money for a four-year college degree.

The average unauthorized-immigrant family living in New Jersey earns $34,000 a year, while the average yearly cost at in-state colleges runs roughly $13,000.

But now a North Jersey Assembly member belatedly wants to set things right.

As NJ Spotlight reported last month, Democrat Gary Schaer of Passaic has introduced a bill that opens up financial aid programs to immigrant students who qualify for in-state tuition.

This accommodation makes sense on so many levels.

For the 22-percent of New Jersey residents who were born in other countries, it means their children have a shot at a brighter future. For the state's taxpayers, it means the investment they made by seeing these children through public elementary and high school will yield higher returns in terms of a productive, well-educated workforce.

Some states, such as California and Texas, already have laws on the books making unauthorized immigrants eligible for state financial aid programs. In Massachusetts last year, the presidents of all nine state universities endorsed a similar measure.

For the students who were brought to New Jersey when they were quite young, this is their home. They have much to offer in return -- talent, energy, innovation -- if we give them the chance.

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