Marietta Daily Journal editorial

Immigration

June 09, 2010

Should Georgia allow those in this country illegally to enroll in its public colleges, universities and technical colleges? We would submit that Georgians would overwhelmingly answer that question with a loud “No.” The state Board of Regents, which oversees the University System of Georgia, is to take up that question today, and we hope it ultimately decides to abide by those sentiments and, more importantly, to adhere to federal law, which clearly states that such an education is a “benefit” that cannot be granted to those here illegally.

That question became a front-burner issue thanks to the recent controversy surrounding Kennesaw State University student Jessica Colotl, whose status as an illegal was discovered after she was stopped for a minor traffic violation on the KSU campus and gave false information to police and eventually was taken to an immigration holding detention center in Alabama. With the help of KSU President Dr. Dan Papp and others, she was released by ICE and given a one-year reprieve to finish her degree – although without a change in her legal status, she will ultimately be unable to legally work in this state, degree or no degree. She also now must pay the more expensive out-of-state tuition rate, rather than the in-state rate she had been charged.

Ms. Colotl, who came to this country as a child with her parents, graduated from a Georgia high school and was admitted to KSU on that basis, where she has acquitted herself well academically.

Georgia law prohibits the state’s institutions of higher learning from providing benefits to illegal aliens that are denied to them under federal law. Hence, the Regents’ practice until now of charging illegals the higher out-of-state tuition, rather than the in-state rate. And it is not illegal for illegals to apply to college. Yet under federal law, a college education an institution of higher learning clearly is a “benefit” when it is coming courtesy of a tax-supported school.

But frankly, the Regents have taken a blase approach until now about whether those they allow to enroll are legals or illegals, even though it would be a simple, inexpensive matter for admissions offices to determine. They already ask for all kinds of other personal information, transcripts, etc.

As we have noted before in this space, the cost of verifying applicants’ citizenship status via the SAVE system would be but 50 cents per person and would only apply to those who list themselves as legal non-citizens on the application form. Non-citizens who are in this country legally could be asked to complete an affidavit swearing to their lawful status and eligibility for the public benefit in question (the college education). And keep in mind that false swearing on such affidavits is a felony punishable by deportation in the case of non-citizens.

The Regents are expected to receive a briefing on the law and perhaps appoint a committee today to look into the matter. If that’s the case, we hope the committee is not just window-dressing designed to give the appearance of action until the story blows over – because we don’t think it is likely to be going away any time soon.

Most Georgians were probably unaware until Ms. Colotl came along that their tax dollars were going to pay for the education of illegals at state-supported colleges and universities and trade schools. And now that they’ve heard about it, they don’t think much of it. Tax-supported schools should not be admitting such students. Those slots should go to those in this country legally. And the Regents should change their policies to reflect that.

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