For Immediate Release	Contact: Jack Hawke
May 9, 2008	(919) 771-5310

                                                                                               

McCrory: Easley-Perdue Administration Wrong

Illegal Immigrants should not attend community colleges

 

 In a statement on the Attorney General’s advice on the admission of illegal immigrants to Community Colleges, Republican candidate for Governor Pat McCrory strongly disagreed with Governor Mike Easley.  McCrory took exception with the Governor, “The Easley-Perdue administration is wrong to tell the Community College system to violate federal law and admit illegal immigrants to our Community College system.”  McCrory called on Lt. Governor Perdue to “stand up and show leadership.”

“The advice of the attorney General included a citation of federal law specifically including post secondary education as a prohibited benefit unavailable to illegal immigrants.  The only avenue to address the federal law is through enactment of a state law by the legislature.  If Lt. Governor Perdue supports her administration in this effort then she should use her influence as President of the Senate to enact such a law.  However, I’m sure the legislature will be reluctant to specifically vote for the admission of illegal immigrants to our post secondary education system.

It is my belief that our community colleges should concentrate on preparing students for the job market.  Since employers are prohibited from hiring illegal immigrants it makes little sense to require the colleges to prepare people who are legally unemployable.  Our higher education system should emphasize training our citizens for job opportunities available in our state.  Every seat taken by an illegal immigrant could potentially deny a citizen a chance for higher education.

The governor is mistaken when he claims admission of illegal immigrants to higher education without specific legislative action is consistent with other states.  In 2001 California and Texas passed enabling legislation and eight other states followed with specific legislation, however, none of the enabling states are in the south.  Even in the states with enabling legislation the admission is limited to graduates from high school in the state, but the Easley-Perdue administration would admit any 18 year old. 

 It is obvious that Beverly Perdue and I have a completely different opinion on the approach state government should take when it comes to dealing with illegal immigration.”

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