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Sunday, October 14, 2007
FTCC Stands Firm


Winston-Salem Journal


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Cheers to Forsyth Technical Community College for standing firm on its policy of admitting illegal immigrants. In response to a request that it revisit that policy, the school came back with a sound explanation of just why it embraced the policy more than two years ago. If only more institutions would confront the immigration issue so practically and humanely.

The request that the policy be revisited came from a former member of the Ku Klux Klan who is running for the county board of commissioners, the Journal’s Laura Giovanelli recently reported. He was probably trying to drum up votes with his request. Unfortunately, he may have done that.

That guy probably won’t see the wisdom in FTCC’s response. But maybe others will.

A position statement that the policy committee of FTCC’s board approved 3-1 last week says that the school’s policy of admitting “undocumented immigrants … reflected the view of the Board that the College should serve the people of Forsyth and Stokes County, providing the educational access and opportunity needed for people to improve their lives and the lives of their families. A particular concern that was addressed by this policy is the circumstances of individuals who have grown up in this community, have graduated from area high schools, but are undocumented because they have been brought to the United States by their parents in violation of immigration laws.

“ … Also noted is one of the general principles of American law, that children are not held accountable or punished for the acts of their parents.â€