Christie Backs Tuition for Illegals

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie confirmed his weekend switch to support of reduced tuition for illegal immigrants in a debate Tuesday with his re-election opponent, Democrat Barbara Buono.

The Republican governor said that he now backs the Tuition Equality Act, which would aid illegal immigrants in the state, The New York Times reports.

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According to Fox News , : "I believe every child should be given the opportunity to reach their God-given potential ... that’s a moral requirement," Christie told the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey on Saturday, Fox News reported. "We need to get to work in the state legislature on things like making sure that there’s tuition equality for everybody in New Jersey."

The comments represented a marked change from the governor's longtime stance against letting illegal immigrants in New Jersey pay discounted, in-state tuition rates, according to news reports.

The bill would grant them in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities if they attend three years of high school in the state, receive a diploma from a New Jersey school, and promise to seek legalization once the opportunity arose, The Washington Times reports..

The legislation is stalled in the New Jersey legislature.

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