North Carolina, Alabama and California election contests are bring up undocumented college students as an election year contention just prior to the Nov. elections.
In North Carolina, Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue (D) and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory (R), both gubernatorial candidates both say they oppose undocumented immigrants attending the state’s community colleges.
Under pressure from Perdue, the community college system banned access to undocumented students in a decision made on Aug. 15, after 11 of the 16 board members voted to restrict admissions. In a survey earlier this year, the system identified 112 undocumented enrolled students in the 58 community colleges. “We don't know how many of the 112 are Latinos but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a majority,” said Irene Godinez, advocacy director of the Raleigh-based Latino group, El Pueblo.
Tony Asion, executive director of El Pueblo said he did not understand why education officials would vote to deny students an education. “We were shocked that the person who’s running for governor as an education proponent would deny so many youths an education for political gain because there was no other reason to do this.”
The North Carolina issue spilled over into presidential politics when John McCain’s campaign in the state issued a statement saying the candidate opposed providing benefits to illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, Democrat Barack Obama spoke in favor or open enrollment, the traditional community college policy.
In Alabama undocumented students face a similar problem. The state board of education approved a policy Sept. 25 denying undocumented students admission to Alabama’s two year colleges.
In a 4-0 vote, with one abstention and 4 members absent, the policy will take effect in the spring, 2009.
Applicants will be required to show three forms of documentation, such as an Alabama driver’s license, a naturalization certificate, an unexpired U.S. passport or an unexpired U.S. permanent resident card in order to enroll in a community college.
Two-year Chancellor Bradley Byrne said there is no way to know how many students would be affected or how much money this policy would save, but he did not think many illegal immigrants were enrolled.
Raul Gonzalez, director of legislative affairs of National Council of La Raza said Alabama’s actions are troubling, “They need to make sure in their zeal to deny public higher education to undocumented immigrants that they may deny those services to U.S. citizens who don’t have documentation.”
In California, governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed for the second time the California Dream Act (SB1301) on Oct. 30. This proposal would have enabled qualifying undocumented students to apply for aid administered by individual college and universities, scholarships and loan programs which are all funded by non-state monies.
The governor said, “Given the precarious fiscal condition the state faces at this time, it would not be prudent to place additional demands on our limited financial aid resources as specified in this bill. For this reason, I am unable to sign this bill.”
Senator Gil Cedillo (D), the bill’s author said the governor once again ignored strengthening California’s workforce. “It’s shocking in such difficult financial times, with the state facing systemic budget shortfalls that the governor would turn down private monies; investment that would secure our economic position and expand educational attainment to our workforce.”
In North Carolina, Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue (D) and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory (R), both gubernatorial candidates both say they oppose undocumented immigrants attending the state’s community colleges.
Under pressure from Perdue, the community college system banned access to undocumented students in a decision made on Aug. 15, after 11 of the 16 board members voted to restrict admissions. In a survey earlier this year, the system identified 112 undocumented enrolled students in the 58 community colleges. “We don't know how many of the 112 are Latinos but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a majority,” said Irene Godinez, advocacy director of the Raleigh-based Latino group, El Pueblo.
Tony Asion, executive director of El Pueblo said he did not understand why education officials would vote to deny students an education. “We were shocked that the person who’s running for governor as an education proponent would deny so many youths an education for political gain because there was no other reason to do this.”
The North Carolina issue spilled over into presidential politics when John McCain’s campaign in the state issued a statement saying the candidate opposed providing benefits to illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, Democrat Barack Obama spoke in favor or open enrollment, the traditional community college policy.
In Alabama undocumented students face a similar problem. The state board of education approved a policy Sept. 25 denying undocumented students admission to Alabama’s two year colleges.
In a 4-0 vote, with one abstention and 4 members absent, the policy will take effect in the spring, 2009.
Applicants will be required to show three forms of documentation, such as an Alabama driver’s license, a naturalization certificate, an unexpired U.S. passport or an unexpired U.S. permanent resident card in order to enroll in a community college.
Two-year Chancellor Bradley Byrne said there is no way to know how many students would be affected or how much money this policy would save, but he did not think many illegal immigrants were enrolled.
Raul Gonzalez, director of legislative affairs of National Council of La Raza said Alabama’s actions are troubling, “They need to make sure in their zeal to deny public higher education to undocumented immigrants that they may deny those services to U.S. citizens who don’t have documentation.”
In California, governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed for the second time the California Dream Act (SB1301) on Oct. 30. This proposal would have enabled qualifying undocumented students to apply for aid administered by individual college and universities, scholarships and loan programs which are all funded by non-state monies.
The governor said, “Given the precarious fiscal condition the state faces at this time, it would not be prudent to place additional demands on our limited financial aid resources as specified in this bill. For this reason, I am unable to sign this bill.”
Senator Gil Cedillo (D), the bill’s author said the governor once again ignored strengthening California’s workforce. “It’s shocking in such difficult financial times, with the state facing systemic budget shortfalls that the governor would turn down private monies; investment that would secure our economic position and expand educational attainment to our workforce.”
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