Thread: N.C.: Colleges may take illegal immigrants

Colleges may take illegal immigrants
But tough restrictions are likely, including out-of-state tuition.
BY KRISTIN COLLINS - Staff Writer
Published: Fri, Sep. 18, 2009 02:00AM
Modified Thu, Sep. 17, 2009 11:31PM


William Gheen, left, organized a protest of about 50 demonstrators outside the building. - STAFF PHOTO BY ETHAN HYMAN

RALEIGH -- Illegal immigrants may be allowed back into the state's community colleges, but under restrictions likely to exclude all but a handful.

A committee of the State Board of Community Colleges recommended Thursday that undocumented students be admitted to degree programs, but they would have to pay out-of-state tuition, be denied financial aid, and be enrolled in classes only after legal students are given slots.

The full board will vote on a final policy today, capping nearly two years of controversy over whether to allow illegal immigrants to enroll in degree programs at the state's 58 community college campuses.

At a glance

The 21-member State Board of Community Colleges will vote today on whether to admit illegal immigrants with these caveats:

• Illegal immigrants must pay out-of-state tuition.

• They're not eligible for financial aid.

• They must have graduated from a U.S. high school.

• Legal residents have priority when class space is limited.

• Illegal immigrants may be denied entry into a program if federal law prohibits them from getting a professional license in the field.

For 16 months, the community colleges have taken one of the most restrictive stances in the nation, barring illegal immigrants from all degree programs while they deliberated.

Dr. Stuart Fountain, the policy committee chairman, said the committee had crafted a fair policy that would allow in only the most motivated illegal immigrants, and would not hurt the colleges' ability to serve legal residents. He said out-of-state tuition is about $7,700 per semester, compared with $1,600 for in-state students.

"That is an enormous hurdle," Fountain, a retired dentist from Asheboro, said after the meeting. "It provides an opportunity for an education for people who are very determined."

A decision to admit them is not likely to cause an enrollment rush. Before last year, when many campuses admitted students regardless of immigration status, fewer than 150 illegal immigrants were enrolled.

Fountain said he wasn't sure whether the full board would approve the policy, but he said none of its 21 members has told him they oppose his position.

Among those on the board are two elected leaders, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton and State Treasurer Janet Cowell, both Democrats. Most of the remaining members are appointed by the governor and legislature.

A spokeswoman for Dalton said he was "carefully considering the issue." Cowell also declined to say how she would vote.

Protesters on hand

The committee made its decision unanimously Thursday, and without discussion, as nearly 50 protesters waved flags and shouted through bullhorns outside the building, calling for a ban on illegal students. Police scanned those attending the meeting with metal detectors and checked bags for weapons.

Protest organizer William Gheen said he opted for a sidewalk gathering because the committee did not allow public comment Thursday.

"If illegals are in colleges, they're being trained in jobs that Americans really need," say Ray Bodall, a computer programmer from Raleigh who was protesting with his 25-year-old son.

He was among several who said their admission to community college was another way illegal immigrants are sponging public resources and taking opportunities from native-born residents.

"Where are they getting the money to pay the tuition?" said Devin Norris, a Web hosting provider from Raleigh who said he plans to run for president in 2012. "They're getting it from our paychecks. Our paychecks are getting raped."

A study conducted by the board, however, showed that out-of-state tuition covers more than the cost of instruction, and that most colleges profit from students who pay out-of-state rates.

Admitting them would put the community colleges in line with the UNC system, which admits illegal immigrants who attended high school in the United States.

The board also commissioned a $75,000 study to outline the approaches taken by other states. The study showed that all but one other state, South Carolina, allow undocumented students to enroll in community colleges.

http://www.newsobserver.com/front/story/1694703.html

They are cheating American Citizens out of scholarship and awards somehow, too.

And then we Americans are to give to anchor babies and undocumented students a free ride to college or in-state tuition at undocumented parents request?

NO WAY!
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US citizens who pay out of state need to sue if undocumented parents and students are given in-state tuition.
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And then there is the grade point average in Senior Year of High School.
If a grade point average is greater for one students doesn't mean the higher grade point is college bound or even taking harder courses. US Citizens have been cheated out of College due to dumbies in an unfair system of grade point averages permitting non college bound students (undocumented immigrants) to have a better grade point average somehow.

All grade point averages are put together in a ranking order. Someone taking a college level courses compared to lower level 12th grade courses; will probably be under so much more pressure; and the grade points can end up being the same. But if the lower level 12th grade courses loaded person can get that little sweet advantage. It does knock that more prepared college bound American child/citizen out by not being in the top 5%, 10% or even 20% of the graduation class ranking.

So the American Child/Citizen does not get into preferred college or scholarships for their hard work in High School is VOIDED by illegals.

LUMPING ALL GRADE POINT AVERAGES TOGETHER IS NOT WISE! and I am about 99.9% sure the school system are lumping illegal immigrants grades, non-college bound, and the very bright student all together into one combined grade point average group for ranking of the class.

Who is most likely to lose above? and Who definitely has the most to gain?

(It is a game with our heads to dumb us down. John Lennon wrote a song about "20 years of schooling" to dumb children down.)

What a planned plot against Americans and their children.