Topeka ? When Cindy Perez moved to Olathe from Mexico 11 years ago, she expected to return there to attend college, but now she’s hoping to attend Pittsburg State University.

Perez, 17, and her parents are living illegally in the United States. But a state law enacted last year allows her to attend Kansas universities at in-state tuition rates — a substantial savings.

She was among some 800 Hispanics gathered Tuesday in drizzling rain outside the Statehouse for a rally to promote the immigrant tuition law and other issues, and to demonstrate the unity and growing strength of immigrants statewide. Hispanics are the fastest-growing population segment in the state.

The law extends in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants who attended a Kansas high school for at least three years and graduated. To qualify, illegal immigrants also must actively seek legal immigration status or plan to do so when they are eligible.

At Pittsburg State, in-state tuition is $1,316 per semester versus $4,495 for out-of-state students. The Board of Regents says some 30 illegal immigrants are taking advantage of the tuition law this year.

“If the law changes, I probably will go to a junior college or would move back to Mexico and live with my aunt and go to school there, which had been my plan in the first place,” Perez said.

The Federation of American Immigration Reform wants the law struck down. Last year, it filed a federal lawsuit, claiming the law violated the U.S. Constitution and rewards illegal immigrants. The group wants stricter enforcement of immigration policies. No trial date has been set.

And Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville, said the law was unfair to naturalized citizens, like his wife, Suyapa, who came to the United States from Honduras. The law and other measures designed to help illegal immigrants allow them to “jump ahead in line” to receive benefits, he said.

As for the tuition law, Journey said, “It was an unfair burden on taxpayers to support illegal status.”

At the rally promoting the law, about a dozen people took turns speaking to the group, many huddled under umbrellas and others carrying signs reading, “We Want to Drive Safely” and “We are the American dream.” After each speaker, the crowd chanted “Si, se puede” — “Yes, we can.”

They also rallied in support of a Senate-passed bill making it illegal for law enforcement officers to profile people based only on their race, ethnicity, nationality, gender or religious dress. The bill awaits House action.

“The goal is raise awareness and unite immigrant awareness,” said Melinda Lewis of the El Centro organization in Kansas City, Kan.

The group also urged lawmakers to allow illegal immigrants to get a Kansas driver’s license. Efforts to pass such legislation failed last year and there’s little movement on the issue this session.

Speakers also encouraged passage of a bill in a House committee making it illegal for a company to misclassify an employee as an independent contractor to avoid withholding requirements from their pay. Lewis said that was a problem many illegal immigrants faced in the workplace.