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VIRGINIA'S PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES ARE AT THE CENTER OF A PROPOSED NEW CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. 

A BILL NOW IN THE LEGISLATURE WOULD REQUIRE STUDENTS TO PROVE THEY'RE IN THE UNITED STATES LEGALLY, BEFORE THEY CAN ENROLL.

GAIL PENNYBACKER IS LIVE AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY IN ARLINGTON WITH DETAILS.

Gail Pennybacker:
THEY JUST STARTED THEIR FRESHMEN YEAR JUST THIS WEEK HERE AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY.  BOTH FROM INDIA, RAVI SHANKI AND RAGHA BENDRA SAY IT TOOK SIX MONTHS JUST TO COMPLETE THE PAPERWORK FOR THEM TO BE LEGAL STUDENTS.

Story:
Ravi Shanki: "All the legal documents, bank statements, took me long time." 

WHILE THESE STUDENTS ARE IN THE US LEGALLY...THERE ARE ESTIMATES THAT AS MANY AS ONE THOUSAND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE IN VIRGINIA, THAT'S WHY LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING A BILL TO MAKE LEGAL RESIDENCY MANDATORY.

Tabitha Keller: "The same rules should apply for everybody not just certain people because it's hard to get in school these days."

THE LAW WOULD MIRROR A POLICY HERE AT GEORGE MASON REQUIRING PROOF OF LEGAL STATUS.

Dan Walsh: "Their visa and that type of thing so it's all part of normal process for us."

SOME STUDENTS SAY THE LAW ISN'T NECESSARY.

Krystianna Moody: "I think it should be to the schools, not a mandatory law."

OTHERS SAY PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION SHOULDN'T BE TIED TO BEING IN THIS COUNTRY LEGALLY.

Paolo Quint: "I wouldn't want people to struggle and not get into university because of their legal status."

Lizzy Nguyen: "It should be on a person's ambition and drive and their dreams."