Now, in the first week of college for many, a certain group will not be walking campuses like that of the University of South Carolina.
South Carolina Representative Tedd Pitts of Lexington said, "We wanted to make sure people here illegally were not going to our institutions."
Rep. Pitts was one of the Republican lawmakers who sponsored Act 280. It bans illegal immigrants from attending state colleges, universities and technical schools.
Pitts said, "Our institutions of higher learning are subsidized by tax payers, and we wanted to make sure people here illegally were not using those services." Dr. Miriam Torres says the act isn't fair. She directs the Consortium for Illegal Immigration Studies. Dr. Torres said, "Many of these kids came here very early in life. They are children who didn't have a say as to whether or not they would come to the United States."
Torres says while the students can apply to private schools that may admit them, they still can't benefit from state scholarships because of the law. Torres said, "They can't apply for state scholarships even though they've been here and paying taxes like sales taxes and paying taxes in paychecks." At this time, Act 280 is holding firm and it's creating a divide between two distinct opinions.
Rep. Pitts said, "There are those concerned that those people are here illegally using state services and this was an effort to stop that."
Dr. Torres added, "I just think those children are being punished."
South Carolina is the first state to ban undocumented students.
Last week, North Carolina took up the discussion. Arizona, Colorado, Georgia and Oklahoma now deny illegal immigrants in-state tuition benefits.
8/20/2008 8:06:37 PM
