Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants would become eligible to receive government financial aid to attend college in New York under a bill that state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver introduced Friday. The powerful Democrat's bill follows the Obama administration ``Dream Act'' initiative this week. It defers deportation for young illegal immigrants and makes it easier for them to get better jobs and pay for college. ``My parents came here as immigrants and I was able to have opportunities precisely because this country welcomed my family and allowed us to work hard and succeed,'' Silver said Friday. If it becomes law in New York, Silver's measure could influence the presidential debate. The state is home to more than 4 million legal immigrants and growing fast, and it has some of the nation's highest concentrations of public and private colleges. Because illegal immigrants are undocumented, it's hard to estimate their numbers.
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