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The Daily OrangeNorth Carolina community colleges admit illegal immigrants
By Dawn Rzeznikiewicz
Posted: 9/29/09, 2:11 AM EST Section: News
North Carolina community colleges are now legally allowed to admit illegal immigrants into their institutions. The new policy by the North Carolina Board of Community Colleges was approved Sept. 18. It reverses a 2007 decision to ban illegal immigrants.
The legality of allowing illegal immigrants into the system has been long debated.
In May 2007, U.S. Attorney General Roy Cooper said the decision on whether to allow illegal immigrants to attend colleges and universities would be left up to individual states and schools. North Carolina initially denied admission to illegal immigrants in its 58 community colleges but reversed that this month.
North Carolina is estimated to have 385,000 illegal immigrants, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform. Megan George, director of marketing and external affairs for North Carolina Community Colleges, reported that the community colleges admitted 111 illegal immigrants out of 200,000 students applying to North Carolina community colleges in 2007-2008.
North Carolina accounts for 3 percent of all illegal immigrants in the United States, according to The East Carolinian, East Carolina University's student newspaper.
There was only one counter vote against the policy by North Carolina's Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton. Dalton started the First in America Innovative Education Initiatives Act that allowed high school students to work towards associate degrees while still earning diplomas.
The 21-member North Carolina Board of Community Colleges voted Sept. 18 in favor of allowing illegal immigrants into two-year North Carolina schools. The Board of Community Colleges serves as the governing authority for the state community colleges. The state's community college system is the third-largest system in America, George said.
"The committee hired a consulting firm, JBO Associates, and also looked at the admissions procedures in other states," George said.
The committee held a working session in August as well as regular meetings to develop a policy recommendation.
Illegal immigrants will be allowed to enroll, paying an out-of-state fee of $7,000. They will not be eligible to receive financial aid or loans, George said. They will not be allowed to take the place of students who are legal citizens of the United States, she said.
Despite these enrollment conditions, many people are unhappy with the decision of North Carolina Community Colleges to enroll illegal immigrants. They argue that since these students cannot legally work in the United States or pay taxes to support the community they should not be allowed to attend. Others argue students shouldn't be punished for the actions of their parents, according to a USA Today article.
dkrzenzi@syr.edu
The legality of allowing illegal immigrants into the system has been long debated.
In May 2007, U.S. Attorney General Roy Cooper said the decision on whether to allow illegal immigrants to attend colleges and universities would be left up to individual states and schools. North Carolina initially denied admission to illegal immigrants in its 58 community colleges but reversed that this month.
North Carolina is estimated to have 385,000 illegal immigrants, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform. Megan George, director of marketing and external affairs for North Carolina Community Colleges, reported that the community colleges admitted 111 illegal immigrants out of 200,000 students applying to North Carolina community colleges in 2007-2008.
North Carolina accounts for 3 percent of all illegal immigrants in the United States, according to The East Carolinian, East Carolina University's student newspaper.
There was only one counter vote against the policy by North Carolina's Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton. Dalton started the First in America Innovative Education Initiatives Act that allowed high school students to work towards associate degrees while still earning diplomas.
The 21-member North Carolina Board of Community Colleges voted Sept. 18 in favor of allowing illegal immigrants into two-year North Carolina schools. The Board of Community Colleges serves as the governing authority for the state community colleges. The state's community college system is the third-largest system in America, George said.
"The committee hired a consulting firm, JBO Associates, and also looked at the admissions procedures in other states," George said.
The committee held a working session in August as well as regular meetings to develop a policy recommendation.
Illegal immigrants will be allowed to enroll, paying an out-of-state fee of $7,000. They will not be eligible to receive financial aid or loans, George said. They will not be allowed to take the place of students who are legal citizens of the United States, she said.
Despite these enrollment conditions, many people are unhappy with the decision of North Carolina Community Colleges to enroll illegal immigrants. They argue that since these students cannot legally work in the United States or pay taxes to support the community they should not be allowed to attend. Others argue students shouldn't be punished for the actions of their parents, according to a USA Today article.
dkrzenzi@syr.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 13
steve
posted 9/29/09 @ 8:12 AM EST
Folks, we as Americans should know that you CANNOT pick and choose which laws you want to follow and which laws you do NOT want to follow. The Non-representing representatives of ours are following marching orders from god knows who. (Continued…)
Debbie
posted 9/29/09 @ 9:40 AM EST
I'm not sure how I feel about this decision. Since they have to pay out of state tuition and will not receive aid from the government, I don't see where it's really hurting US citizens. (Continued…)
Betty Armstrong
posted 9/29/09 @ 1:28 PM EST
I really am not in favor of even admitting them to our colleges, but as long as they have to pay out of state tuition I can accept them. I don't comprehend the thinking behind this except the money involved. (Continued…)
Chip
posted 9/29/09 @ 3:41 PM EST
It's all about votes and power! Our self-serving politicians who support education, medical care, food give-away, and subsitized housing for illegals do this for votes from existing hispanic populations and left-wingers. (Continued…)
tina
posted 10/02/09 @ 11:28 AM EST
I wish more people would see that there is no way that that by allowing illegal immigrants in Colleges is going to hurt the citizens. i mean they going to pay out of state tuition and they will not qualify for financial aid or loans. (Continued…)
Liz
posted 10/28/09 @ 7:16 PM EST
I cant believe how ignorant u people are. We do pay taxes and we dont get anything from them. I dont see how fighting for a better life for your family is a mistake. (Continued…)
John (ESF '10)
posted 10/29/09 @ 12:44 AM EST
I think this is an excellent step in the right direction. People are so selfish these days it sickens me. Imagine growing up in what is practically a 3rd world nation. (Continued…)
aldo
posted 11/06/09 @ 9:53 PM EST
its all about the $ since they noticed how many illegals tryed to apply they noticed that that was a lot of money that could of been made. Many of illegal families do pay taxes (i know some) and they been doing so for the past 10 years. (Continued…)
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