I throw this out there ....

[heyheybooboo]

For the past year there has been an on-going meltdown over the children of illegal immigrants attending community colleges in North Carolina.

The Guv has weighed in. The Attorney General has issued opinions. The Dept of Education has flipped their policy 2 or 3 times.

This is for 112 students who pay out-of-state tuition (which pays the full cost) for their education in a system that has over 300,000 enrolled.

What flipped me today: The NC State Board of Community Colleges is now going to spend up to $75,000.00 studying the issue

Presidential politics has now entered the debate in North Carolina over the 112 children of illegal immigrants who attend community college in North Carolina ....

Here is the article

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama suggested this weekend that the children of illegal immigrants should have an opportunity to attend community colleges.

Obama said children who attended public schools should have the chance to continue to improve themselves rather than being consigned to the fringes of society.

?For us to deny them access to community college, even though they've never lived in Mexico, at least as far as they can tell?is to deny that this is how we've always built this country up,? Obama said in an interview over the weekend with WUNC during a campaign stop in Greensboro.

The campaign of GOP presidential hopeful John McCain issued a statement saying McCain opposes providing benefits to illegal immigrants, but did not specifically address whether they should be permitted to attend community colleges.

?John McCain does not support amnesty or benefits for undocumented immigrants,? his campaign said. ?He has consistently opposed giving amnesty or public benefits to undocumented immigrants.?

In his interview with WUNC, Obama said he favored tightening border security and cracking down on employers who hire illegal immigrants. But he also said there must be a path to citizenship for those already in the United States.

Obama said many children of Mexican immigrants have spent nearly their entire lives in the U.S. and ?for all practical purposes they are an American kid.?

Earlier this month, the state Board of Community Colleges agreed to spend up to $75,000 to study whether to admit illegal immigrants as students. There were 112 illegal immigrants among the 300,000 students enrolled in the state community college system last year.

So ....

1) They are paying their way; and
2) What's the big deal ? (see number 1)


Am I missing something here? Should I not see this as a huge waste of time, effort and resources on 112 students who pay their own way ?

 

[Cuda1447]

I don't have a problem with them attending those community colleges, why were they allowed to attend public school though? They (and their parents) didn't pay taxes to pay for those public schools, so they shouldn't reap the benefits.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
I don't have a problem with them attending those community colleges, why were they allowed to attend public school though? They (and their parents) didn't pay taxes to pay for those public schools, so they shouldn't reap the benefits.

Well the alternative is them being uneducated and more than likely a member of a street gang. However if their parents are apprehended then they should get deported right along with them.

 

[TechAZ]

Fine with me. Needs 1 more step though....

In order for the kids to go to college the parents must be tossed out of the country.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
I don't have a problem with them attending those community colleges, why were they allowed to attend public school though? They (and their parents) didn't pay taxes to pay for those public schools, so they shouldn't reap the benefits.

The majority of school funding across the country comes from property taxes.

Property taxes are passed on to renters, with higher rent payments.

So no, they likely did pay taxes, because they've got to be living somewhere.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

I think both NC governor candidates McCrory and Perdue have stated that they want to keep community colleges for legal citizens only based on the fact that this education and training isn't going to someone who can legally be employed here. I have a hard time believing there are only 112 illegal immigrants in the community college system here. We have had an unbelievable influx of illegal immigrants here in NC and they are putting a huge strain on our infrastructure.

 

[TechAZ]

Originally posted by: Wreckem

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
I don't have a problem with them attending those community colleges, why were they allowed to attend public school though? They (and their parents) didn't pay taxes to pay for those public schools, so they shouldn't reap the benefits.

The majority of school funding across the country comes from property taxes.

Property taxes are passed on to renters, with higher rent payments.

So no, they likely did pay taxes, because they've got to be living somewhere.

Don't forget about the taxes they paid to the FED and SS via identity theft too!

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

It's really moot if they are technically paying property taxes through their rent. That percentage of rent that goes to property taxes is the same if it's just one person renting or two families with four kids sharing the apartment. The sheer number of illegals are driving property taxes up for everybody that pays them because of the extra burden that's created on schools.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: TechAZ
Fine with me. Needs 1 more step though....

In order for the kids to go to college the parents must be tossed out of the country.

I can't wait to see the native Americans take back their land and throw you out.

 

[Veramocor]

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian
I think both NC governor candidates McCrory and Perdue have stated that they want to keep community colleges for legal citizens only based on the fact that this education and training isn't going to someone who can legally be employed here. I have a hard time believing there are only 112 illegal immigrants in the community college system here. We have had an unbelievable influx of illegal immigrants here in NC and they are putting a huge strain on our infrastructure.

Here's my basic problem if you are moved here when you are two (you broke no law since your parents moved you) and then you are here till 18 what are you suppose to do?

You are more a citizen if the U.S. then a country you haven't lived in for 16 years.

In these cases citizenship process should be quick.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Originally posted by: Veramocor

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian
I think both NC governor candidates McCrory and Perdue have stated that they want to keep community colleges for legal citizens only based on the fact that this education and training isn't going to someone who can legally be employed here. I have a hard time believing there are only 112 illegal immigrants in the community college system here. We have had an unbelievable influx of illegal immigrants here in NC and they are putting a huge strain on our infrastructure.

Here's my basic problem if you are moved here when you are two (you broke no law since your parents moved you) and then you are here till 18 what are you suppose to do?

You are more a citizen if the U.S. then a country you haven't lived in for 16 years.

In these cases citizenship process should be quick.

Honestly, if things stay like they are, I wouldn't be against a process that grants citizenship if someone is simply here for a certain (long) amount of time. It's the government's responsibility to enforce the laws in a timely manner, they should either be doing that or accept the fact that not doing it is what keeps these people here and go ahead and legitimize them.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian

Originally posted by: Veramocor

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian
I think both NC governor candidates McCrory and Perdue have stated that they want to keep community colleges for legal citizens only based on the fact that this education and training isn't going to someone who can legally be employed here. I have a hard time believing there are only 112 illegal immigrants in the community college system here. We have had an unbelievable influx of illegal immigrants here in NC and they are putting a huge strain on our infrastructure.

Here's my basic problem if you are moved here when you are two (you broke no law since your parents moved you) and then you are here till 18 what are you suppose to do?

You are more a citizen if the U.S. then a country you haven't lived in for 16 years.

In these cases citizenship process should be quick.

Honestly, if things stay like they are, I wouldn't be against a process that grants citizenship if someone is simply here for a certain (long) amount of time. It's the government's responsibility to enforce the laws in a timely manner, they should either be doing that or accept the fact that not doing it is what keeps these people here and go ahead and legitimize them.

I think there needs to be some type of process - I'm not smart enough to know how that process may work.

It seems odd to say but North Carolina in my (long) lifetime has become fairly diverse - legitimate folks with hispanic heritage run businesses (even race teams), serve on local boards and are parts of all communities around the state, both metro and rural. If it's 3 to 1 legal/illegal that's got to be pushing 800-900k folks.

I'd guess it's pretty much a wash on infrastructure. And I don't know how the state economy could survive without 'em in every thing from Christmas trees, construction, landscaping, food processing, service jobs - and it's been a while since I've been out in the fields but I doubt there are a bunch of white people pulling tobacco anymore - LOL.

There's high unemployment in the State but there are jobs out there - pretty crappy ones for the most part. If some illegals' parents work 3 shitty jobs - and the kid works full-time - I don't really have a problem with them trying to better themselves.

I worked a full-time job when I went to college - and worked full-time while I got my graduate degree. I did it with one $300 student loan that I paid back in 4 months. If that is the path they are following my hat's off to them - they got more character and represent my Tar Heel roots more than the Little Women's children (don't tell her I said that - HA!).