Immigration issue divides legislators
RALEIGH — A pair of Guilford County legislators find themselves speaking out on opposite sides of an upcoming debate over whether to admit the children of illegal immigrants to community colleges.
The issue caused a stir last year after the community college system first decided to allow and then block illegal immigrants from attending.
Since then, the State Board of Community Colleges asked JBL Associates, a Virginia company, to study the situation in North Carolina and the way other states handle the issue. Preliminary results from that study are expected later this month, but legislators on both sides of the issue say they expect the General Assembly will be asked to weigh in.
Sen. Phil Berger, a Rockingham County Republican who represents parts of Guilford County, filed a bill that would keep the community college system from admitting those here illegally to degree-granting programs.
“I think it’s unfortunate that the community colleges have jumped back and forth between saying they would admit and then wouldn’t admit folks who are in the country illegally,” Berger said.
He said the General Assembly needed to set a clear policy.
Rep. Pricey Harrison, a Greensboro Democrat, has filed a bill that would do the opposite.
“There are 112 students out of 201,000 last year before we stopped admitting them and they’re not taking the place of any North Carolinians,” Harrison said. Those who can’t prove residency, she said, pay out-of-state tuition — about $15,000 for two years not counting books or travel costs.
Berger said it doesn’t matter how much tuition someone here illegally pays.
“I think the paying of out-of-state tuition really doesn’t really cover all of the expenses,” Berger said. He added, “But the other part of it is whether we as a state want to have as a policy something that says if you’re here illegally you’re going to be rewarded in some way ... That tends to encourage more people to come here illegally.”
But Harrison argued children graduating from state high schools should be able to pursue higher education.
“By not allowing them the opportunity to advance in society, we’re going to continue to promote the creation of an underclass,” Harrison said.
The State Board of Community Colleges is scheduled to meet March 20. A spokeswoman says the board will get a more complete report on the immigration issue at its April meeting.
Contact Mark Binker at (919) 832-5549 or mark.binker@news-record.com
About the bills
S 155: community colleges can’t admit illegal aliens
The bill: S 155 would require students at community colleges to be lawful residents of the United States.
Who’s responsible: Sen. Phil Berger is the primary sponsor: (919) 733-5708
H 362: Access to higher education
The bill: H 362 would prohibit the community college system from excluding students based on immigration status.
Who’s responsible: Rep. Pricey Harrison is a primary sponsor: (919) 733-5771
What’s next: Both bills have been assigned to committee but have not had their first hearing. The State Board of Community Colleges is due to hear from a consultant hired to study the issue later this month and in April.
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