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17 illegal immigrants got in-state tuition at Gainesville State

By HARRIS BLACKWOOD
The Times

The president of Gainesville State College said Monday that 17 illegal immigrants, all graduates of area high schools, were allowed to pay in-state tuition during the current school year.

Martha Nesbitt issued the written statement in response to a request by The Times for data on the number of illegal immigrants paying the lower tuition rate for Georgia residents.

"The only students who qualify for consideration (for in-state tuition) are those who are Georgia residents, have graduated from a Georgia high school and offer strong academic promise," wrote Nesbitt.

She defended the practice as being legal and approved by the University System Board of Regents. She said most of the students were from Hall County.

Her comments came on the heels of a letter by Sen. Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, accusing the college of violating federal law.

"Federal law is quite clear on the issue of taxpayer-assisted tuition for illegal aliens," wrote Rogers in a letter to The Times. "Title 8, U.S.C. section 1621, requires that illegal aliens may not receive any post-secondary education benefits, unless an individually state specifically grants in-state tuition."

Rogers, who is not related to Rep. Carl Rogers of Gainesville, was the sponsor of the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act, the sweeping state immigration reform bill that Gov. Sonny Perdue signed into law Monday.

He wrote that it was "illogical" to invest taxpayer dollars in a person who is not legally allowed to work upon graduation.

But in her e-mail, Nesbitt questioned why "would we not want them to continue their education."

"They want to attend college to prepare for productive careers, and they hold out hope of gaining legal status," she wrote.

Nesbitt hopes to talk with local lawmakers about the matter, saying she found it strange that members of Hall's delegation chose to take the case directly to the media.

She was referring to state Rep. James Mills published comments that funds to renovate the student center were in jeopardy during the budget process. Mills, R-Chestnut Mountain, said this was due in part to a March 6 forum on immigration that Rogers attended.

In an e-mail to The Times, Rogers wrote that he felt the forum was "loaded against me," but he wasn't upset.

"I attended the event at Gainesville, despite the 90-minute drive during the middle of a session week, and had no problem with it," he wrote.

Nesbitt dismissed talk about the forum as "an attempt to control academic freedom on a college campus." She said the community has spoken eloquently in defending the school.

Contact: hblackwood@gainesvilletimes.com, (770) 718-3423

Originally published Tuesday, April 18, 2006