Immigrant students without legal status rallied behind Connecticut legislation that would make them eligible for financial aid at state schools.  The legislature's higher education committee took testimony Tuesday. 

United Autoworkers Union regional director Julie Kushner, whose members include teaching assistants, spoke about the bill's defeat last year.  She said Danbury-based Connecticut Students for a Dream made a compelling case, speaking for hours.  Kushner said she was appalled that too many lawmakers said they believed that if more DREAMERS were eligible to draw on this pot of money, it would take money away from "our kids".

Under state law such students already are eligible for in-state tuition.

Advocates say the students already pay into the pool of money through tuition, but don't have access to institutional aid.