Community Colleges in North Carolina Close Doors to Illegal Immigrants
By KATHERINE MANGAN
Monday, August 18, 2008
Chronicle of Higher Education
North Carolina's State Board of Community Colleges voted on Friday to barillegal immigrants from enrolling in the state's 58 community colleges while itcommissions a study on the politically charged issue. The decision surprisedand angered some Hispanic-rights advocates and disregarded the boardpresident's recommendation that a more lenient policy be restored.
The vote ratified a motion by Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, a former schoolteacherand current Democratic candidate for governor, who sits on the community-colleges board. She drew sharp fire from critics of the decision.
"I was shocked that a person who is running for office stating that she will bethe education governor would propose denying education to these kids," saidTony Asion, executive director of
El Pueblo Inc., a public-policy group, basedin Raleigh, N.C., that advocates for Latinos. "And I was shocked that they aregoing forward with this policy even though there is no federal or state lawprohibiting the colleges from admitting these students."
North Carolina is one of only a few states that deny illegal immigrants accessto community colleges.
http://chronicle.com/daily/2008/08/4262n.htm
