On Monday I reported this:
“No federal law prohibits North Carolina from admitting illegal immigrants to its colleges and universities, officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said today [May 9, 2008]. The statement from federal officials contradicts a letter sent this week by the office of state Attorney General Roy Cooper."
College O.K. for Illegal Immigrants É here
Now in a complete turn-around, North Carolina will no longer allow undocumented or illegal immigrants to attend their community colleges.
"I don't think its fair," student Patrick Chen said. "Everyone deserves a right to education."
Oh, really, Mr. Chen?
Since when do illegal immigrants have a "right" to a college education?
Student Daniel McCauley disagrees. "I think that if you are illegal, you shouldn't be allowed to go to school because it takes away from the people that are here that are us citizens."
Well, at least you're a more intelligent college student, Daniel...
And, not surprisingly, of course, we have, what else? "Outrage"
"In Raleigh, at El Pueblo, an advocacy group for Hispanics, community leaders are outraged."
"No, there is nothing at all from the federal government saying that a school cannot permit a student paying out of state tuition go to school," one leader said.
The state attorney general disagrees a passed down new guidelines to the state's 58 community colleges. The new rule went into effect Tuesday.
That means students graduating from high school, who are illegally in the U.S., will not be admitted.
Undocumented students can attend any of the 16 public universities. The problem is most can't afford the out of state tuition and they are not eligible for state or federal financial aid.
So, why don't student's apply for citizenship? Some say its a lengthy and expensive process."
A lengthy process?
Yes...becoming a citizen of the United States of America doesn't happen overnight.
It never has, and it probably never will.
But immigrants have been becoming American citizens the proper way for decades.....
And it is a proud moment for those who have followed the process and can now say the are Americans.
Expensive?
I've never heard that one before.
College is expensive, though.
See an interview of students at
Wake Technical Community College and advocacy group El Pueblo É here
and read an article from the Guardian.co.uk
North Carolina Bans Illegal Immigrants from Community Colleges É here
