Should GTCC open its doors to undocumented immigrants?
We've already stated our support for the idea of granting in-state tuition at UNC campuses to undocumented immigrants who have lived in North Carolina for at least four years, graduated from a North Carolina high school and taken steps to attain legal status.
Here's the proposed legislation that would allow that.
Now GTCC is considering a policy change to admit undocumented immigrants as students. They would have to pay out-of-state tuition, unless the previously mentioned legislation is approved.
GTCC's trustees chairman, David S. Miller, told me today he expects the board will agree to the new policy, which represents a developing consensus throughout the commmunity college system. It likely won't affect many students right away, but it does recognize the increasing impact immigrants are having on our society.
As long as they're here, the idea is to open more doors of opportunity so they can become more productive contributors to our economy.
What's your opinion? GTCC is a public institution, and the public is entitled to have input about its policies.
We'll have an editorial on this subject next week.
Comments (2)
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Mr. Clark, Why would you or the N&R take a stance supporting in-state tuition for illegal immigrants when it is in direct opposition of a federal law? There is a 1966 federal immigration law which prohibits granting in-state tuition to anyone who is in the US illegally unless legal residents of the US are also granted the same consideration. That would mean any citizen of the US would have to be granted the same break no matter what state they live in and what state they were attending school in. This would virtually eliminate in state/out of state rates thus everyone would pay the same. Or colleges and universities nation wide would be in violation of the law.
Posted on May 9, 2005 12:00 PM
Yvonne,
Thanks for posting. Please, no Mr. required!
You're absolutely right, and federal law may prohibit North Carolina from enacting an in-state tuition bill.
But eight states already provide in-state tuition for illegals, including Texas for the last four years. An official there told me there has been no legal challenge to the policy.
We wouldn't support this if U.S. immigration officials actually were arresting and deporting illegals with any consistency. They're not. Because these people apparently are here to stay, it makes sense to us that they should have an opportunity to get an education and become better contributors to our economy.
Also remember that most of the individuals we're talking about were brought here as children. Their parents may be lawbreakers, but it's hard to lay that tag on the kids. Should they pay the penalty of being denied opportunities on account of their parents' actions?
I think reasonable people can disagree, but our position on this issue is to favor expansion of opportunity.
Posted on May 9, 2005 12:31 PM