Some Va. schools allow illegal immigrants; bill aims to stop that

Thursday, Jan 17, 2008 - 10:41 PM

Virginia Tech, Radford University, Old Dominion University and George Mason University permit undocumented immigrants to enroll.

Several state lawmakers want to put a stop to that.

The four schools are the only ones among the state's 15 public four-year colleges and universities that do not check legal residence in the U.S. before allowing enrollment, according to an informal survey by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

Each school sets its policy on admitting undocumented immigrants, as do the state's 23 public community colleges, which are roughly split -- with 12 indicating they permit enrollment and 11 that prohibit enrollment.

Undocumented students pay out-of-state tuition, which can be double or nearly triple the cost of in-state tuition. Andrew Flagel, dean of admissions at George Mason University, said the undocumented students "in essence, are funding in-state students."

George Mason is in Northern Virginia, a hotbed of immigration debate.

Del. Christopher K. Peace, R-Hanover, asked why, instead of admitting undocumented immigrants, the schools can't admit "someone who's legal from out-of-state "

Admitting undocumented immigrants, he said, endorses "a practice that's in violation of our national interest."

Peace has proposed legislation to block undocumented immigrants from attending any state college or university. His intent, he said, is to reduce incentives for people to move to Virginia illegally.

Here is tuition information from Web sites of the four state public universities that told the council they let undocumented immigrants enroll. George Mason University: $285.00 for one credit hour for in-state undergraduate. $822.00 for one credit hour for out-of-state undergraduate. Old Dominion University: $211 per credit hour for in-state undergraduate. $585 per credit hour for out-of-state undergraduate. Virginia Tech: $240.50 tuition per credit hour for a Virginia resident. $749.25 tuition per credit hour for a non-Virginia resident. Radford University: $6,176 in-state tuition and fees per year. $14,510 out-of-state tuition and fees per year. -- Olympia Meola

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