PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- A Rhode Island lawmaker wants all immigrants eligible for in-state tuition at state colleges regardless of their legal status.

Rep. Grace Diaz of Providence plans a news conference Thursday to highlight her bill making all high school graduates eligible for in-state tuition even if they are illegal immigrants.

Under her proposal, illegal immigrants hoping to pay in-state tuition at a state college would have to attend a Rhode Island high school for three years and earn a diploma.

The potential students would also have to file an affidavit with school authorities promising that they have either filed an application to legalize their immigration status or plan to do so.

Governor Carcieri has tried using the state government to crack down on illegal immigrants.

What a royal ripoff to give illegal aliens a break on tuition. We pay for all their schooling and health care and food pantries and then we also have to pay for their college tuition like our kids...but we pay taxes and they do not.

I agree...Nice to help...but certainly in these times when they pay nothing and we can't afford for our citizens who paid taxes...Gall like all legislators