ALIPAC: NC Community colleges ban illegal immigrants

[ALIPAC]

Community colleges ban illegal immigrants

System president says policy could change; Bowles says UNC system not following lead

FRANCO ORDOÑEZ
Charlotte Observer
May 14, 2008

A simmering debate over illegal immigrants on N.C. college campuses broke open Tuesday when the state community college system announced it will no longer enroll undocumented students.

In doing so, the two-year system disregarded the recommendation of Gov. Mike Easley to seek more federal clarification.

Erskine Bowles, president of the University of North Carolina system, also appeared to question the decision.

The new rule, which reverses a policy started in November, runs contrary to common higher-education practices nationwide.

Undocumented students up to now could attend N.C. colleges as long as they graduated from a U.S. high school. They were ineligible for state or federal financial aid and must pay out-of-state tuition.

In November, then-President Martin Lancaster ordered all 58 two-year schools to admit undocumented students. In December, the community college system sought clarification on the new policy from Attorney General Roy Cooper.

Last week, a member of Cooper's staff cited a federal law that bans illegal immigrants from getting state benefits, including a higher education. He said restricting admission of illegal immigrants "would more likely withstand judicial scrutiny."

The ban takes effect immediately.

"We asked the Attorney General's Office for clarification of our present policy and will abide by their advice," said system President Scott Ralls, who took over the two-year system on April 1.

He went on to say he will continue to seek clarification of federal law and that another policy change is possible.

Bowles responded within hours of the announcement. He said the decision is based on one lawyer's interpretation of federal statutes, not a formal attorney general opinion.

He added that the UNC system's 16 campuses would admit illegal immigrants pending more federal clarification. The Department of Homeland Security said this week that admission policies are up to the schools.

"The University of North Carolina certainly intends to abide by the law," Bowles wrote in a letter to the UNC Board of Governors. "In this instance, there sure seems to be considerable legal disagreement about what the relevant federal law really says."

In a statement, Easley added: "It is odd the Community Colleges would ask for clarification on the law and then change the policy before they get the clarification."

As of last year, about a third of the state's two-year colleges banned illegal immigrants. That changed in November with Lancaster's order.

Community college officials say only 112 of 297,000 degree-seeking students are undocumented.

Officials at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, the system's largest college, said 19 students were illegal immigrants as of fall 2007.

Undocumented students will still be allowed access to such programs as GED and English as a second language classes.

Those currently enrolled in degree programs will be allowed to finish their degrees.

Supporters of greater immigration enforcement applauded the move. Raleigh-based Americans for Legal Immigration PAC said the decision could have national impact.

"Many states are allowing illegal aliens to attend their colleges at full price and a few are even forcing taxpayers to foot the bill with in-state tuition," said group president William Gheen. "Other states are going to notice North Carolina's precedent and move to follow our lead."

Immigrant-rights advocates said students are being punished for the mistakes of their parents.

"This is really about intolerance," said Angeles Ortega-Moore, executive director of the Latin American Coalition in Charlotte.

"That's not the United States that I know. You lift people up instead of saying, `No, your parents did this on purpose and you're going to be punished.' "

-- The Raleigh News & Observer contributed.

-- Franco Ordoñez: 704-358-6180

Illegal immigrants

http://www.charlotte.com/local/story/622995.html

[zeezil]

Community college officials say only 112 of 297,000 degree-seeking students are undocumented.

Erskine Bowles has stated that there are 24 illegal immigrants at UNC. So, the question becomes....why haven't they turned their names over to ICE since they know who they are!!!

Federal law states that it is a FELONY CRIME for any person or corporation to willingly aid and abet illegal aliens that either enter the US or remain here unlawfully.
Section 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)(b)(iii)

[zeezil]

WHY ADMITTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO COLLEGES IS BAD PUBLIC POLICY

According to estimates, the previous open door policy of allowing illegal aliens to attend community colleges would cost North Carolina taxpayers between $6 million and $8 million. If that program expanded (more illegal alien students than anticipated), costs will increase. http://www.jwpcivitasinstitute.org/medi ... mmigration

The previous policy – in violation of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act – encouraged and induced illegal immigration by providing illegal immigrants with a taxpayer-subsidized education. By preparing illegal immigrants to enter North Carolina’s workforce, the previous policy also ignored the fact that under the Immigration and Nationality Act it is illegal to employ an illegal alien.

The directive issued by Governor Easley and carried out by Martin Lancaster (Community College President, at that time) in November 2007 asks taxpayers to subsidize the education of undocumented aliens who are not in the country legally and cannot legally work in North Carolina or in the United States.

This plan charged illegal immigrants with out-of-state tuition. On average, out-of-state tuition covers only 50 percent to 70 percent of the total costs of education.

Alternative figures released by the community college system regarding the costs to educate an out-of-state student do not include capital costs. According to the North Carolina Community College System Fact Book: http://www.ncccs.cc.nc.us/Publications/ ... fb2007.pdf , tuition funds comprise only 12.5 percent of total community college operating expenses. State and local funds – i.e., state and local taxpayers – comprise 82 percent of all funding for the community college system.

In 2005, legislation to grant illegal immigrants in-state-tuition was considered by the North Carolina General Assembly. According to Civitas’ April 2007 DecisionMaker Poll ( http://old.jwpcivitasinstitute.org/keyl ... l-Poll.pdf ),
70 percent of voters oppose giving illegal immigrants in-state tuition.

Here’s an example as to where the misguided and unlawful policy of allowing illegal aliens into colleges can lead:

In 2001, Texas granted in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. In 2005, Texas reported a 900 percent increase in enrollment of illegal immigrants in state higher education institutions and community colleges.

In comparison, California likely has more than double the number of illegal immigrants enrolled in state colleges and universities than Texas. According to a recent Legislative Analysis Office report, there are up to 20,000 immigrant students in California receiving waivers from the state for tuition, both legal and illegal. The report said that about 90 percent of the immigrant students in California’s Community College system alone are undocumented. This means that there could be as many as 18,000 illegal immigrants enrolled in California State University, University of California and community colleges receiving heavily subsidized in-state tuition rates at the cost to the taxpayer of about $117 million per year. http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-98134.html

[ALIPAC]

added to the homepage

http://www.alipac.us/article3189.html

W

[tencz57]

I for one . Do not believe the 112 total . But even if thats correct . They have no right to even enter a college and enroll . Some of them on Pell grants also as we read right here on alipac. This is just plain breaking the law and laws are being twisted and abused for the illegal while the citizen pays the bill . Hmmm this is a dirty slap in the face by the present administration . Enforce the law and deport

[zeezil]

Civitas Institute DecisionMaker Poll February 2008
http://www.jwpcivitasinstitute.org/medi ... maker-poll

The Civitas Institute conducts a monthly DecisionMaker Poll on important issues facing North Carolina.


17. DO YOU BELIEVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENROLL IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA?
# %
1. YES (199) 25%
2. NO (540) 68%
--- NOT SURE (61) 8%

18. REGARDLESS OF YOUR ANSWER ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION, IF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WERE ALLOWED TO ENROLL IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES OR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES, SHOULD THEY BE TREATED AS IN-STATE RESIDENTS AND GET LOWER TUITION OR SHOULD THEY PAY HIGHER OUT-OF-STATE TUITION?
# %
1. IN-STATE (107) 13%
2. OUT-OF-STATE (612) 76%
--- NOT SURE (81) 10%

So, the people of North Carolina, by a 3-1 margin are against allowing illegal aliens into colleges and universities.

If illegal aliens were allowed in, the people of NC would be against providing in-state tuition by a 6-1 margin.

[zeezil]

The below assessment was written before this most recent policy change. It was written after the previous "open door" policy was adopted during Gov. Easley's memo directive in November 2007. It is well worth a read:

Community Colleges: Cool Wisdom?
Dr. Robert Luebke | January 9, 2008

“Cool wisdom.â€

[zeezil]

I for one . Do not believe the 112 total . But even if thats correct . They have no right to even enter a college and enroll . Some of them on Pell grants also as we read right here on alipac. This is just plain breaking the law and laws are being twisted and abused for the illegal while the citizen pays the bill . Hmmm this is a dirty slap in the face by the present administration . Enforce the law and deport

Right you are, tencz57. Those "reported numbers" are entirely misleading, inaccurate and far below what the real amount is. That's because the college system doesn't check on immigration status. They only report what an applicant discloses. Therefore those numbers represent (1) an illegal alien arrogant enough to openly disclose and report his status OR (2) an illegal alien stupid enough to report and disclose his status. So. they use these incorrect and ridiculously low numbers to spin it into something like 'it isn't an issue anyway since there are so few so what's the big deal.'

President Lancaster rests his case on dubious numbers. According to NCCCS, there are 340 illegal immigrants enrolled in community colleges throughout the state. Thus there is apparently no need to worry that illegals are taking seats from U.S. citizens. Still, let’s remember: 340 is a self-reported number. For obvious reasons, illegal immigrants have many reasons not to disclose their immigration status. As such, does anyone seriously believe there are only 340 illegal immigrants enrolled in NCCCS?

I’m not the only one who thinks NCCCS numbers are inaccurate. An analysis of data from the 2006 American Community Survey indicates that even when accounting for age and foreign students at UNC and community college campuses, there are still approximately 10,000 noncitizens enrolled as undergraduates in public higher education institutions in North Carolina. Since a local community college is the probable destination for most of these students, 10,000 fraudulently registered in-state students would likely yield taxpayer subsidies to illegal immigrants in the range of about $36 million dollars per year.
http://www.jwpcivitasinstitute.org/medi ... ool-wisdom

[zeezil]

If anyone would like to send a few e-mails to the main players, contact information below:

GOOD GUYS:

Attorney General, Roy Cooper
Contact: http://www.ncdoj.com/default_contactus_ ... id=general (e-mail form at bottom of page)
Telephone: 919-716-6400

Scott Ralls, North Carolina Community College System president
Contact: rallss@nccommunitycolleges.edu


BAD GUYS:

Governor Mike Easley:
Contact: http://www.governor.state.nc.us/Contact.asp\

Erskine Bowles, University of North Carolina president
Contact: http://www.northcarolina.edu/content.ph ... _UNCOP.php

[boxersbear]

You know, I don't care if there are 112 or 5 enrolled that's 5 too many. That's like saying "Well there's only 112 people milking the state by getting welfare that they don't deserve so why bother?" The fact remains that they are here illegally. If they want to go to school past 12th grade have their parents send them back to their home country. I'm sure it's cheaper than going here and paying out of state tuition.
Speaking of parents, why is it I haven't heard that it's the parent's fault that they are here illegally. Also what does it say about a parent that would involve thier children in a crime? Ultimately the parents are responsible, NOT me and NOT the rest of the citizens of this state or country so put the blame where it's suppose to be. And PLEASE don't try to make a case by putting bleeding heart stories about how it's for the poor children. That's how most of those arrested in raids get off by once again using thier children. Not what I would call very upright people.