N.C. schools welcome illegal immigrants

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina's community college board on Friday approved allowing illegal immigrants to enroll next year, a move that could drop a contentious issue in the lap of state lawmakers in an election year.

The State Board of Community Colleges voted 13-1 to admit illegal immigrants to classrooms if they graduated from a U.S. high school, pay out-of-state tuition of about $7,700 a year and don't displace a citizen.

The country's third-largest community college system has changed its illegal immigrant admission policy four times since 2000. The change on admitting foreign citizens comes at a time when unemployed workers are jamming classrooms.

But North Carolina also has one of the country's largest populations of illegal immigrants, with about 678,000 in 2008, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

The enrollment rules are comparable to those already in effect for University of North Carolina campuses.

"But we also recognized the needs of our state's citizens to have every educational opportunity available by adding the caveat that a North Carolina or U.S citizen could not be displaced by an undocumented immigrant," community colleges board chairwoman Hilda Pinnix-Ragland said.

The policy now must be reviewed by a state commission that reviews administrative rules. Written objections to the policy from 10 residents would send it to the General Assembly, which could block the liberalized admissions by passing a law. Democratic leaders in the state House and Senate would decide whether to take the issue to a vote.

Americans for Legal Immigration PAC president William Gheen said opponents of illegal immigration will raise objections and leave it for Democratic legislative leaders to decide whether to reverse the community colleges board.

"We would love for the legislature to take this up," Gheen said. "This is a position that should have been taken by our elected officials, but instead it was done by bureaucrats appointed by the Democratic machine."

Republican state Reps. Wil Neumann and Pearl Burris-Floyd, both of Gaston County, have said they'll seek legislative action to overturn the revamped admissions policy.

Friday's sole opposing vote came from Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, while state Treasurer Janet Cowell backed the revised policy. Dalton, of Rutherfordton, and Cowell, of Raleigh, are Democrats elected in 2008 after serving in the state Senate.

"Anyone that seeks a higher education and has the desire to be a contributing member of society should have the opportunity to do so," Cowell said. "I believe this is in the best economic interest of our state now and in the future."

Dalton issued a statement saying: "It is simply not the right time to place greater demands on our community colleges."

A spokeswoman did not immediately respond when asked to clarify Dalton's statement, since illegal immigrants would pay the full cost of their education and take instructional slots otherwise unfilled.