Illegal Immigrants Admission to Community Colleges

*Blog Editor Note* NASW-NC supported the coalition to block this effort. NASW-NC supports community colleges admitting students regardless of immigration status.


Illegal Immigrant Admissions

North Carolina's community college system said Tuesday that it is heeding recent advice from the state Attorney General's Office and no longer admitting illegal immigrants into degree programs. The University of North Carolina system, however, said it doesn't plan to stop admitting illegal immigrants just yet. Attorney General Roy Cooper's office advised the state's 58 community colleges last week that federal law appears to prevent states from enrolling illegal immigrants in state colleges and universities. Cooper's office also suggested that the community college system return to a 2001 policy that prohibited illegal immigrants from degree classes.
The community college system requested advice from Cooper's office last year after adopting a policy requiring community colleges to admit students irrelevant of immigration status. "We asked the Attorney General's Office for clarification of our present policy and will abide by their advice," said Scott Ralls, president of the community college system. The decision comes despite the federal government's assertion last week that it has no authority over admissions at North Carolina colleges, and despite Gov. Mike Easley's request that the colleges remain open to all. Easley's office released a brief statement about the decision Tuesday: "It is odd the community colleges would ask for clarification on the law and then change the policy before they get the clarification." The decision takes effect immediately at the system's 58 campuses.

In a memo to chancellors and the UNC Board of Governors, UNC President Erskine Bowles said university campuses would continue to admit illegal immigrants until there is further guidance from the federal government. "The University of North Carolina certainly intends to abide by the law," the memo said. "In this instance, there sure seems to be considerable legal disagreement about what the relevant federal law really says."

(Jane Stancill and Kristin Collins, THE NEWS & OBSERVER, 5/14/08).