Military veterans who weren't US citizens when they enlisted no longer qualify for a Texas education program. That's because of a state attorney general's opinion.
Under a state law, war veterans qualify for free state college or university tuition if they were Texas citizens when they enlisted and lived in the state for one year before enrolling in school.
But Texas citizenship isn't defined by law. Most state universities and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board had interpreted it to mean veterans who lived in Texas for one year before enlisting.
But in a formal opinion requested by San Antonio state Senator Leticia Van De Putte, state Attorney General Greg Abbott tied state citizenship to US citizenship.
Van De Putte says the policy change is unfair to many veterans. The Democrat has asked the Republican Abbott to reconsider the opinion.
