Thread: MD:Thompson requests documents in IA schoolchildren battle

hursday, Jan. 8, 2009
Thompson requests documents in immigrant schoolchildren battle
Commissioner believes federal government should reimburse county for money spent educating illegal immigrants
by Margarita Raycheva | Staff Writer


Only a few days into the new year, Frederick County Commissioner John "Lennie" Thompson Jr, (R) has resurrected the debate about illegal immigrants being educated in Frederick County Public Schools.

Throughout 2008, Thompson tried to press the school system to count the number of illegal immigrants it educates. He persuaded county commissioners to take the issue to the Maryland State Board of Education and ask if school systems can collect that kind of information.

The school system responded by asking state officials to disregard the commissioners' request because it relates to issues governed by federal and immigration law.

Now, Thompson wants to know how much the school system is spending on hiring an outside legal firm – the Prince George's County-based Knight, Manzi, Nussbaum and LaPlaca – to represent them before the Maryland State Board of Education.

On Monday, Thompson formally requested that the school system provide him copies of all documents and bills related to the school system's legal representation on the matter.

In December, Thompson questioned the school system's decision to hire Andrew Nussbaum of Knight, Manzi, Nussbaum and LaPlaca, instead of using the services of the school system's official legal counsel Jamie Cannon.

Thompson, who is an attorney, said he drafted the commissioners' petition to the state board for free, so the county did not spend taxpayers' money.

He said he was concerned that the school system is spending taxpayers' money to "advocate for the rights of illegal immigrants."

School system spokeswoman Marita Loose, however, said that the school system has used Nussbaum's services before, especially when dealing with more specific issues within his fields of expertise, immigration and transportation.

"He has experience working with school systems on a variety of matters," she said.

The school system now has 30 days to comply with Thompson's request, Loose said.

Thompson wants to know how much the school system spends on educating illegal immigrants because he believes that the federal government could reimburse the county for that amount.

E-mail Margarita Raycheva at mraycheva@gazette.net.
http://www.gazette.net/stories/01082009 ... 2476.shtml

Thompson wants to know how much the school system spends on educating illegal immigrants because he believes that the federal government could reimburse the county for that amount.

Good luck with that request. If the feds reimbursed states for illegals CA would be in fine financial shape.

I think the United States are going to break apart when state and local governments realize that the Federal government is not going to help them pay for illegals benefits.