Decision Pending on NC Community Colleges Admission of Illegal Immigrants

State Board of Community Colleges Must Consider All Costs to Taxpayers

September 14, 2009

NC NEWS -- The State Board of Community Colleges is expected to decide this week whether to admit illegal immigrants to degree programs. Although North Carolina community colleges are reporting record enrollments, last month the policy committee of the board recommended a policy allowing illegal immigrants.

The board received a consultant's report in April on the effects of admission of these students into the community college system. A primary focus of the study was to calculate the amount of state and local resources required to support a student enrolled full-time in a community college curriculum program.

The study estimated there is no public subsidy for illegal immigrants if they pay out-of-state tuition. However, the consultant did not include the value of the land or buildings in the computation of education costs. Are these items free?

NC House Republican Leader, Representative Paul Stam of Wake County said:

"Members of the State Board should thoughtfully consider the effects of admitting illegal immigrants into our community colleges. The study is clearly flawed. Taxpayer subsidies are unquestionably much higher. At a time most community college classes are enrolled to capacity, it makes no sense to allow those who are in this country illegally to displace our citizens."

Finally, the issue of admitting undocumented immigrants has been before leaders of the community college for years. One example is Senate Bill 2019 introduced by Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger. However, the State Board of Community Colleges has changed the admission policy four times since 2000.