Report: Few illegal residents in college
Illegal immigrants equal 0.11 percent of Oklahoma's higher education students, researchers say.

By JULIE BISBEE NewsOK.com
Published: 6/13/2009 2:26 AM
Last Modified: 6/13/2009 4:41 AM

The number of students attending Oklahoma's higher education institutions who are in the country illegally make up less than 1 percent of the total number of students at the state's colleges and universities, a report shows.

The new report approved by the Advancement of Hispanic Students in Higher Education Task Force shows that 272 students enrolled in Oklahoma's post-secondary education system are not legal residents.

In all, Oklahoma has 229,903 students enrolled in higher education. Illegal immigrants make up 0.11 percent of that number, according to the group's report.

The task force, created by a House bill in 2004, held its final meeting Friday.

Under the legislation that created the 18-member task force, the group looked at how state policies affected students who were not U.S. citizens, including their use of financial aid and payment of tuition.

The group's report also tracks illegal-immigrant enrollment.

"There is so much misinformation out there that these students are taking resources away, when that's not the case," said Isabel Chancellor, a member of the task force and president of IngenuitE, a business technology company based in Oklahoma City.

"It's good to have this all in black and white. By using this information, I hope it makes a difference."

Although Hispanics are the fastest-growing segment of the state's population, the number of illegal immigrants who are enrolled in higher education is not growing at the same pace, the report shows.

Over the last five years, the number of illegal immigrants who are college students has increased to 272 from 215.

The report includes no recommendations on policy changes.

Sen. Debbe Leftwich, a member of the task force, said there's little point in recommending changes that might benefit students who are not citizens.

"Under the current administration, it seems discussion of those policy changes would just be stifled," the Oklahoma City Democrat said.

Republicans hold a majority in both the House and Senate.

Over the past few years, the Legislature has passed several anti-immigration bills, including House Bill 1804, which restricted state education aid to students who were illegal immigrants.

Data collected during the last five years show a sharp decline in the number of students receiving Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grants but an increase in the number of students taking part in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program.

That number reflects an increase in the number of high school students who enrolled in the program.

At some point, however, students who are in the country illegally will have to seek private funding to pay for college.

Students who already were enrolled in an education aid program when HB 1804 went into effect were allowed to continue with their education, said Armando Pena, assistant vice chancellor for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

"I think we're going to see more students relying on private scholarships," Pena said. "The challenge of how they are going to pay for college certainly increases."

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