Thank you for contacting Gov. Mike Easley on this important issue.



Gov. Easley says it is in North Carolina’s interest to allow immigrants to attend North Carolina community colleges if they qualify and pay out-of-state tuition. Out of state tuition more than covers the cost of the service, so no tax dollars pay for their education. These are young people who were brought here as babies or youngsters, through no fault of their own. They distinguished themselves in our public schools.



Gov. Easley will not grind a heel in their faces and slam doors on them. The community college systems must be open to everyone so they can become productive members of our society and help North Carolina and America compete in the world economy. To do otherwise would be to set a policy that is destined to build a weaker North Carolina. We do not want to reap the consequences of that.



Denying immigrants access to community colleges does not penalize them, it penalizes our state and innocent children. Any problems with immigration exist because of the United States Congress’ failure to accept its Constitutional responsibility to deal honestly with immigration policies.



Thank you,

Office of the Governor