Should illegals be booted from colleges?
GOP candidates for governor are making a lot of noise about “weeding” out higher education students from Georgia’s colleges who are illegal aliens.
Much of this issue is in response to a recent news story about an illegal alien student at Kennesaw College who for a time, was detained and threatened with deportation following a minor traffic offense on that campus.
It was apparently news to many that students without legal status were being admitted to the state’s colleges.
But the issue isn’t as black-and-white as it may first appear. While non-legal residents shouldn’t get special benefits, they also shouldn’t be unduly thwarted from getting an education.
In most of these cases (of which there is considerable debate on the total number of such students), illegal alien college students were brought across the border by their parents as children. They have attended our secondary schools and now want to continue their education at the college level.
It’s not the fault of the children that they are not legal residents; that was their parents’ doing. Should they be denied access to college because of their immigration status?
This is made more complex because of two other factors. First, many American colleges, including Georgia’s, seek out qualified foreign students every year. At the graduate level, some degrees are dominated by foreign students, in part because of a lack of qualified American-born students to fill those slots. American high schools do not produce enough domestic students to fulfill all of our economic needs, especially in the sciences.
Second, while illegal alien students do take some college slots, there’s often a dearth of native-born, qualified students. Americans are born into opportunity, yet many never take advantage of what they have. Should those students who are qualified and who do seek to take advantage of this opportunity be denied access simply because of their immigration status? Would it not be better in the long run to have a higher-educated population, even if some of those people are illegal?
This is a difficult issue, one certain to get a lot of talk this summer as the governor’s campaigns heat up.
But separating the political heat from the practical reality may be difficult.
It was apparently news to many that students without legal status were being admitted to the state’s colleges.
But the issue isn’t as black-and-white as it may first appear. While non-legal residents shouldn’t get special benefits, they also shouldn’t be unduly thwarted from getting an education.
In most of these cases (of which there is considerable debate on the total number of such students), illegal alien college students were brought across the border by their parents as children. They have attended our secondary schools and now want to continue their education at the college level.
It’s not the fault of the children that they are not legal residents; that was their parents’ doing. Should they be denied access to college because of their immigration status?
This is made more complex because of two other factors. First, many American colleges, including Georgia’s, seek out qualified foreign students every year. At the graduate level, some degrees are dominated by foreign students, in part because of a lack of qualified American-born students to fill those slots. American high schools do not produce enough domestic students to fulfill all of our economic needs, especially in the sciences.
Second, while illegal alien students do take some college slots, there’s often a dearth of native-born, qualified students. Americans are born into opportunity, yet many never take advantage of what they have. Should those students who are qualified and who do seek to take advantage of this opportunity be denied access simply because of their immigration status? Would it not be better in the long run to have a higher-educated population, even if some of those people are illegal?
This is a difficult issue, one certain to get a lot of talk this summer as the governor’s campaigns heat up.
But separating the political heat from the practical reality may be difficult.
Defined tags for this entry: editorial
I got married to a citizen of the Philippines 20 years ago while I was in the Air Force. As a Military member of this country I had to jump through hoop after hoop to bring my spouse, of three years at the time, and with whom I had a two year old child that was born in Hawaii, back into the United States. It cost me more than a little money and time to satisfy the requirements to do that. Now you want to tell me that it is OK for someone to come here, take advantage of our programs, while totally abusing others, just because their parents brought them here. NO NO NO!
This is a very unusual situation Mike,,, I don't think I've ever disagreed with anything that I have seen you write,,, but I do here. Illegal Immigration IS that cut and dry. If you are not here legally then you shouldn't be here at all!
This is my opinion and we all know what they say about opinions
This problem cost the State of Arizona over two billion dollars a year. They should never have been allowed in our schools to begin with. Thier parents [robably wouldn't have brought them here if that was true
It's complete nonsense to be born in the US and not become your very best with the endless resources available.
In some countries education is highly desired, not easily available, and certainly not free. There are places around the globe where parents leave the home to work, for years at a time, just so their kids can go to school.
How sad to throw education away to someone else who will gladly take it.
As adults, they need to accept responsiblity for themselves and their situation.
Isn't that what is expected of American 18 yr olds?
This situation with immigration has just gone too far when we are even debating whether they have a "right" to a damn thing!
A child born here has rights. Born on this soil makes them American. This being said is why we need to work hard to keep illegals out so their children aren't born here.
I know the argument about if the children are born to illegals and all that. I disagree. If you are born here, you are an American. The soveriegn rights we all have as Americans is simply because we were born on American soil.
Keep em out, solve the problem. Everything else is half stepping horse play.
Well, why not? State funding for education at all levels is in decline, education budgets are tough targets to hit, and college tuition is rising faster than inflation. Seems on its face like pretty reasonable action to me.
But wait, there is more from Mr. Buffington. “The issue isn’t as black-and-white as it may first appear.” Mr. Buffington is wrong about this one. This issue is only about politics.
I remember that when “W” was president, the whole political establishment -- both ‘crats and ‘cans, as well as the media -- were behind amnesty for then 12 million illegal immigrants. That was until public opinion polls showed that voters were not buying in. Today’s gubernatorial candidates have read the polls.
There are probably 15 to 20 million illegal aliens in the U.S. today. The President should have worked on immigration reform, not health care. Jack
How does ANYONE, (much less thousands upon thousands of someones) live here for years, even raise children, and not be here legally? How do they get a job? How do they get a Drivers License? How do they get health care? How do they avoid the IRS? How DO they get into school? What happens when they get a traffic ticket, or are arrested for whatever? I just don't get it.
I welcome anyone who comes to our country having followed the proper procedures and obtained the proper documentation required by law to be here. This way, they can contribute to our country in the same ways we actual citizens do. That IS the "American Way"!!!
And some of you guys are right, the U.S. should invest more money on their kids, let's just put it like this:
I was adopted by American citizens when I was 9. I come from a third world country, and I attended a public school while I lived over there. When I came here (Not knowing a single word in English), I was impressed at how slow the education was (I can see it with many of the comments posted).
Now, we shouldn't be pissed at illegals, we should be pissed at the GOVERNMENT that it's not fixing the mistakes. Don't forget my ignorant commentators that these are people we are talking about, not animals, etc. and if you guys are willing to pay for their gas tanks, tickets, etc. prepare your wallets. 10,000,000 and counting.
Government is indeed the problem, most of us on here agree to that without much dissention. The biggest problem is that our federal government has refused to enforce the laws adopted for the purpose of regulating legal immigration. I"m sure a bright young intellectual such as yourself can clearly understand that some sort of oversight of this must be prevelent.
And by the way, your literary skills are not quite what you think they are yet. Keep at it though, proper puncuation is difficult and takes time to perfect.