The number of Missouri lawmakers who support a ban on a state scholarship going to immigrants brought illegally to the county could outnumber the impacted students.
At issue is a bill that would block students who are not citizens or permanent residents from getting the A+ Scholarship. The scholarship funds two years of community college for those who meet grade-point average, attendance and community service requirements.
Democratic Governor Jay Nixon vetoed the proposed ban.
The Department of Higher Education estimates 200-300 immigrants without lawful status might enroll in college this year. Fewer likely would be eligible for the scholarship.
That could mean that more lawmakers in the roughly 200-person Legislature want to ban the scholarship than there are immigrants who could be affected.