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Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Illegal Immigrants: The Education Debate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I just finished reading Brian Feagans’ fascinating article — “In an onion field, two lives intersect” — detailing the disparate lives of two South Georgia women with ties to the immigrant community.
One was a 20-year-old college co-ed whose own parents had toiled in Laotian rice patties before immigrating to the United States two decades ago; the other, an 18-year-old mother who had crossed the border with Mexico a few years ago in search of work.
The student was in the onion field to better understand the forces of illegal immigration as part of her college course work. The mother was there to better her life.
This week, University System of Georgia officials will hold public hearings on a proposal that would prohibit undocumented immigrants, such as that migrant worker, from receiving a break on out-of-state tuition.
Currently, university presidents may waive a portion of the tuition and fees for students, but only in limited circumstances. The tougher policy, which would outlaw that practice for some students, comes as part of an overall state crackdown on illegal immigration.
Sure, the new policy might cut down on the number of undocumented students on college campuses. But will it really keep immigrants from moving here illegally or will it just subject more of them to a life of hard labor?
UPDATE: Dozens have turned out at the public hearings this week to plead with university officials to continue the tuition waivers, which allow some illegal immigrants to pay in-state, rather than out-of-state prices. According to the latest story from the AJC, only about 100 undocumented college students statewide currently use the waivers.
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