Thread: New Policy Keeps Illegal Immigrants Out of Two-Year Colleges

New Policy Keeps Illegal Immigrants Out of Two-Year Colleges

Last Edited: Thursday, 25 Sep 2008, 11:50 AM CDT
Created: Thursday, 25 Sep 2008, 11:50 AM CDT

PELL CITY, Ala. (WBRC-TV MyFoxAL.com) -- A pared-down state board of education has passed a new policy denying illegal immigrants admission to Alabama's two-year colleges.

The policy, which takes affect next spring, was passed on a 4-0 vote Thursday, with one member abstaining. Three others were absent, as was Gov. Bob Riley, the board's president.

The policy was sought by Chancellor Bradley Byrne, who said he did not think it would affect many would-be students. He sought the change because he said it did not make sense to spend taxpayer money educating people who would be unable to obtain legal employment.

Two advocates for immigrants spoke out against the policy, saying it needed more discussion.

The vote was taken at a meeting in Pell City.
http://www.policelink.com/news_feeds/vi ... Id%3D1.1.1

This is an Update on

http://www.alipac.us/ftopic-133064-0.html

Way to Go Alabama! Thank You!

W

Thank you Chancellor Bradley Byrne. Thank you for looking out for the good of Americans. It's not hard to figure this stuff out.

Send a Thank you....to Chancellor Bradley Byrne:


Phone/Fax
Department of Postsecondary Education
Switchboard (334) 242-2900
401 Adams Avenue (36104)
Post Office Box 302130 Executive (fax) (334) 242-0214
Montgomery, Alabama
36130-2130

If you have any questions you can email us at dpe@acs.cc.al.us

Added to Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-3570--0-0.html

Originally Posted by legalatina

Send a Thank you....to Chancellor Bradley Byrne:


Phone/Fax
Department of Postsecondary Education
Switchboard (334) 242-2900
401 Adams Avenue (36104)
Post Office Box 302130 Executive (fax) (334) 242-0214
Montgomery, Alabama
36130-2130

If you have any questions you can email us at dpe@acs.cc.al.us

Thank you legalatina, I certainly will!

This is great news!!

Board policy bars illegal immigrants from 2-year schools
By Desiree Hunter • The Associated Press • September 26, 2008

PELL CITY -- The state board of education passed a new policy Thursday denying illegal immigrants admission to Alabama's two-year colleges despite one board member's calls to delay it for more discussion and four of the nine members being absent.

The policy, which takes effect next spring, was passed on a 4-0 vote, with Ethel Hall of Fairfield abstaining. Four board members -- David Byers of Birmingham, Ella Bell of Montgomery, Sandra Ray of Tuscaloosa and Gov. Bob Riley -- were not at the meeting, which was held in Pell City.

Hall said she was hesitant to vote because there was only a brief discussion when the policy was first presented to the board at a work session two weeks ago.

"I don't think we've done the kind of research we need to do in order to approve the policy," she said before describing how her brushes with racial discrimination -- such as being denied admission to the University of Alabama despite extensive qualifications -- added to her reluctance.

"It's very, very, dear to me because I have been one of those who have been excluded and I was certainly capable and an American-born citizen," Hall said. "So I cannot support this policy until I am given additional information."

Starting next spring, applicants to the community college system will be required to show an Alabama driver's license, state ID card, an unexpired U.S. passport, or an unexpired U.S. permanent resident card.

Two secondary forms of documentation, including a photo ID card and a Certificate of Naturalization, also will be accepted. All international applicants must provide a visa and an official translated copy of their high school/college transcript along with information such as exam scores and proof of adequate financial support.

Shay Farley, attorney and spokeswoman for the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, addressed the board during a public comment period, questioning the policy's necessity and cautioning that there could be unintended consequences.

"We are bound by federal law to provide education to any student, K-12, regardless of legal status," she said. "A lot of children are brought by their parents -- they did not choose to come here. If we deny them a two-year college education, where will they go for their education?"

Two-year Chancellor Bradley Byrne said he was willing to work with opponents as the system develops guidelines for implementing the policy.

"I don't think we can address all of their concerns, but I think we can address some of them," he said.

Byrne said there was no way to know for sure how many students would be affected or how much money the policy would save, but he did not think there were a lot of illegal immigrants enrolling at two-year colleges based on student population.

Admissions personnel at each college will check the documents, he said.

"For 90 percent or more of our students, all that's going to mean is they give them their driver's license," he said.

Schools in a few other states have passed a similar policy but it's not a big movement, said Raul Gonzalez, director of legislative affairs for the National Council of La Raza advocacy group.

Still, Alabama's actions are troubling, he said.

"They need to make sure in their zeal to deny public higher education to undocumented immigrants that they may deny those services to U.S. citizens who don't have documentation," he said.

Gonzalez acknowledged that the documents the system would soon require are the same needed in order to obtain legal employment, but said officials should also be realistic.

"That's a good point, but that's another reason why we need to look at immigration reform," he said. "The bottom line is people will find jobs. How many people do you know who are working under the table? It's not about immigration, it's about poor people who need jobs."
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/app ... /809260328

26 September 2008
A Little Quantum Of Good News
[Paul Nachman] @ 12:03 am

According to a wire service story in the Montgomery Advertiser, Alabama’s board of education has voted, 4 - 0, to exclude illegal aliens from attending the state’s two-year colleges, starting with the spring 2009 semester [New policy denying illegal immigrants admission to Alabama's two-year colleges, September 25, 2008 (probably a short-lived link)]

Note that this wasn’t a decision about whether or not to let illegal aliens attend at in-state tuition rates. Instead, it keeps them out of publicly-funded community colleges, period. Yay!!!

It seems like that vote was resounding, but there was one abstention, and four board members were absent, including Bob Riley, Alabama’s weasel of a Republican governor. So it’s conceivable that this excellent vote could be undone by the unheard-from five. Alabama readers should, please, keep their antennae and guards up.

(Riley earned his weasel-credentials from his chicanery regarding Alabama driver’s license exams in languages other than English. Go here and scroll down to “Court sets date for Alabama driver’s license case arguments.â€