Thread: N.C.: State bans illegals from community colleges

State bans illegals from community colleges
Dumps policy that granted taxpayer-subsidized tuition for degree programs

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Posted: May 15, 2008
12:00 am Eastern


By Wanda Sanchez
© 2008 WorldNetDaily




In a decision that could have national impact, North Carolina officials announced the state will stop enrolling illegal aliens in degree programs at its community colleges.

The move Tuesday reverses a policy enacted in November that admitted illegal aliens paying in-state tuition rates, subsidized by taxpayers.

In December, the community college system sought clarification on the new policy from state Attorney General Roy Cooper. Last week, Cooper’s office cited a federal law that bans illegal immigrants from receiving state benefits, including a higher education.

The attorney general's office said restricting admission of illegal immigrants "would more than likely withstand judicial scrutiny."

Scott Ralls, who recently became president of the state's community college system, said, “We went to the attorney general requesting clarification of the present policy, and we’ll abide by their advice."

Ralls, however, said he will continue to seek clarification, and another policy change is possible.

Illegal aliens will still be allowed to enroll in non-degree programs such as general equivalency classes and English as a second language. Illegals already in the program will be allowed to continue.

Supporters of stronger immigration enforcement applauded the move. Raleigh-based Americans for Legal Immigration PACsaid the decision could have national impact.

"Many states are allowing illegal aliens to attend their colleges at full price and a few are even forcing taxpayers to foot the bill with in-state tuition," said group president William Gheen. "Other states are going to notice North Carolina's precedent and move to follow our lead."

Gheen told WND that North Carolina now has the strictest policy in the country regarding illegal immigrants and state higher education.

Tony Asion, executive director of El Pueblo, an immigrant advocacy group based in North Carolina, told WND he hopes the state will reverse the decision after receiving clarification from the Department of Homeland Security.

"We are deeply disappointed in the decision to bar undocumented students from the North Carolina community college system," Asion said. "It makes no sense and is unfair to students. To bar them from getting an education when they are paying out-of-state tuition and not costing the system anything is not a prudent choice."

The decision, Asion added, "benefits no one, and will ultimately harm the people of North Carolina."

Community college officials say only 112 of 297,000 degree-seeking students are illegal aliens.


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http://www.alipac.us/article3190.html

Civitas Institute DecisionMaker Poll February 2008
http://www.jwpcivitasinstitute.org/medi ... maker-poll

The Civitas Institute conducts a monthly DecisionMaker Poll on important issues facing North Carolina.


17. DO YOU BELIEVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENROLL IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA?
# %
1. YES (199) 25%
2. NO (540) 68%
--- NOT SURE (61) 8%

18. REGARDLESS OF YOUR ANSWER ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION, IF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WERE ALLOWED TO ENROLL IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES OR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES, SHOULD THEY BE TREATED AS IN-STATE RESIDENTS AND GET LOWER TUITION OR SHOULD THEY PAY HIGHER OUT-OF-STATE TUITION?
# %
1. IN-STATE (107) 13%
2. OUT-OF-STATE (612) 76%
--- NOT SURE (81) 10%

So, the people of North Carolina, by a 3-1 margin are against allowing illegal aliens into colleges and universities.

If illegal aliens were allowed in, the people of NC would be against providing in-state tuition by a 6-1 margin.

WHY ADMITTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO COMMUNITY COLLEGES IS BAD PUBLIC POLICY

According to estimates, the previous open door policy of allowing illegal aliens to attend community colleges would cost North Carolina taxpayers between $6 million and $8 million. If that program expanded (more illegal alien students than anticipated), costs will increase. http://www.jwpcivitasinstitute.org/medi ... mmigration

The previous policy – in violation of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act – encouraged and induced illegal immigration by providing illegal immigrants with a taxpayer-subsidized education. By preparing illegal immigrants to enter North Carolina’s workforce, the previous policy also ignored the fact that under the Immigration and Nationality Act it is illegal to employ an illegal alien.

The directive issued by Governor Easley and carried out by Martin Lancaster (Community College President, at that time) in November 2007 asks taxpayers to subsidize the education of undocumented aliens who are not in the country legally and cannot legally work in North Carolina or in the United States.

This plan charged illegal immigrants with out-of-state tuition. On average, out-of-state tuition covers only 50 percent to 70 percent of the total costs of education.

Alternative figures released by the community college system regarding the costs to educate an out-of-state student do not include capital costs. According to the North Carolina Community College System Fact Book: http://www.ncccs.cc.nc.us/Publications/ ... fb2007.pdf , tuition funds comprise only 12.5 percent of total community college operating expenses. State and local funds – i.e., state and local taxpayers – comprise 82 percent of all funding for the community college system.

In 2005, legislation to grant illegal immigrants in-state-tuition was considered by the North Carolina General Assembly. According to Civitas’ April 2007 DecisionMaker Poll ( http://old.jwpcivitasinstitute.org/keyl ... l-Poll.pdf ), 70 percent of voters oppose giving illegal immigrants in-state tuition.

Here’s an example as to where the misguided and unlawful policy of allowing illegal aliens into colleges can lead:

In 2001, Texas granted in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. In 2005, Texas reported a 900 percent increase in enrollment of illegal immigrants in state higher education institutions and community colleges.

In comparison, California likely has more than double the number of illegal immigrants enrolled in state colleges and universities than Texas. According to a recent Legislative Analysis Office report, there are up to 20,000 immigrant students in California receiving waivers from the state for tuition, both legal and illegal. The report said that about 90 percent of the immigrant students in California’s Community College system alone are undocumented. This means that there could be as many as 18,000 illegal immigrants enrolled in California State University, University of California and community colleges receiving heavily subsidized in-state tuition rates at the cost to the taxpayer of about $117 million per year. http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/48870

Why would the American taxpayer be willing to subsidize illegals in our colleges when most of us cannot afford to send our own children to college. The American taxpayer is being shafted by a few leaders(and I use that term loosley) who have their own agenda and are not listening to the majority of Americans. We need to impeach these idiots who think that just because they hold office they can do as they please, This is our country and we need to take it back, from the Palosi's and the reeds and even the Mccains of this world WE put them in office to carry out our wishes not their own. We need to raise hell untill they hear us.

Originally Posted by Irembr911

Why would the American taxpayer be willing to subsidize illegals in our colleges when most of us cannot afford to send our own children to college. The American taxpayer is being shafted by a few leaders(and I use that term loosley) who have their own agenda and are not listening to the majority of Americans. We need to impeach these idiots who think that just because they hold office they can do as they please, This is our country and we need to take it back, from the Palosi's and the reeds and even the Mccains of this world WE put them in office to carry out our wishes not their own. We need to raise hell untill they hear us.

Hi there Irembr911. Yep, good points. I especially and completely agree on the very first one - Why should we give something to foreign nationals that many of our own people cannot enjoy? It doesn't make sense.