In Massachusetts, undocumented young people should soon be able to attend state universities and pay in-state tuition fees. This change will probably allow a few thousand young people to attend school at a more affordable rate ”“ 50 percent or more of the nonresident tuition.

While some people worry that changes like this will over-burden this country and its resources, the fact is that many illegal immigrants live, work and go to school here already. President Barack Obama initiated the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in June, granting immigrants aged 30 and younger two-year reprieves from deportation if they arrived before age 16, had a clean record and met other requirements. The president left it up to individual states to decide whether immigrants should get benefits like resident tuition.

Obama’s change opens an avenue for productive young people ”“ many of whom were brought to the United States by their parents without any say in the decision ”“ to become citizens. Getting an education will allow them to have careers and contribute to society throughout the rest of their lives, whether it be in this country or elsewhere.

Offering in-state tuition to this small group, which is estimated at approximately 15,000 people aged 16-31 in Massachusetts, will not put a strain on the state’s public universities, and it will also open up a new source of revenue for the state.

One young man told the Associated Press he racked up nearly $45,000 in debt paying out-of-state tuition rates to attend the University of Massachusetts. Filipe Zamborlini said the financial strains forced him to leave school after three semesters.

Zamborlini’s story shows that there are young, undocumented people out there willing to work hard and pay for their own education, and offering them equal access now that they live in the U.S. is the right thing to do. By opening up new opportunities, these young people may become our future doctors, teachers or researchers, and they should have a path to citizenship and the chance to pursue the American dream with their peers.

Massachusetts ”“ along with California and a handful of other states ”“ is leading the way in this area, and although further immigration reform is still necessary, the thousands of young people who are already here and in the public school system should have a fighting chance to stay here.