North Carolina’s community college system today announced it will no longer admit new illegal aliens into degree programs, following the advice of the state Attorney General’s Office.
Last year, the system said it would enroll illegal immigrants who are 18 years old and high school graduates at all of its 58 campuses. That change was supported by Democrat Gov. Mike Easley, but it provoked heavy criticism - especially from the leading candidates running to replace the outgoing governor. The Charlotte Observer carries the complete article.
ASU president Michael Crow, meanwhile, has disbursed almost $2 million to financially aid illegal alien students attending the Tempe, Arizona university–clearly skirting the intent of the voters who passed Prop. 300. Citizen students are not on Crow’s radar.
Arizona’s Attorney General, Terry Goddard might want to watch his North Carolina counterpart, Democrat Roy Cooper, who suggested the college system drop the open admissions policy for illegal immigrants it adopted last November.
May 13, 2008 at 6:20 pm
We need to emulate that here! Excellent decision in North Carolina.
May 13, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Don’t wait for Goddard or Crow to step up on this issue. It’ll never happen!
May 14, 2008 at 7:29 am
ASU now claims a money crunch is causing the elimination of men’s tennis, wrestling and swimming. (You might notice women’s programs are not falling under the axe.)
Bet they could continue to fund some of these programs if they used the money ASU prez Michael Crow has gathered for educating illegal alien students, his wife’s fat paycheck or his own outrageously high salary, complete with exorbitant bonuses and perks.
What a scam!
May 14, 2008 at 7:41 am
I would love to go back to college, but even with my full-time job, I currently can’t afford it and don’t qualify for financial aid because I make too much. Maybe I will move to Mexico, become a citizen and come back here for my free education, free food, free medical and whatever else I can get my paws on. I’ll tell ya one thing, when I can go back, I will be really looking into a few online classes at NC!
When is this going to be enough
May 16, 2008 at 3:33 pm
This has been *interesting* to watch.
My understanding is that unfortunately the federal government has said in effect that this policy issue is to be left up to the individual institutions - even if these happen to be public institutions. While this gives NCCC cover for their actions, it also gives Crow cover for his - and says nothing about protection from civil suits resulting from taking one policy or the other.
I think this is essentially the federal government opening a vast and wholly unscientific public policy experiment on the subject of illegal immigrants in higher education. Completely and utterly useless - and spineless to boot. Let’s hope the NCCC approach wins out - but I have to say, I’m not at all persuaded that it will.