Georgia's immigration proposals zero in on college benefits

[Thom Little]

Trying to tackle the challenges of the state's booming, young immigrant population, Georgia lawmakers are preparing to debate an issue that many consider critical to the integration of immigrant communities - access to higher education.

.......

Republicans seem to be backing down from legislation that would have barred undocumented immigrants from all public services, including K-12 education - which is federally mandated. Instead, Republican Sen. Chip Rogers of Woodstock has pre-filed a proposal for the upcoming legislative session that would stop state universities from granting in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants, regardless of how long they have lived in Georgia.

"If a benefit requires Georgia residency, you must have proof that you're a legal resident - that applies to somebody from Alabama or Guatemala," Rogers said.

In response, Sen. Tim Golden of Valdosta, chairman of the Senate's Democratic caucus, and Sen. Sam Zamarripa, D-Atlanta, promptly pre-filed legislation that would let the board of regents of Georgia's university system set admission policies.

"Our state has a long-standing policy that the board of regents is independent of government, because of a history of race relations," Zamarripa said. "The very few who make it to the top, (Sen. Rogers) wants to punish them."


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GA_XGR_IMMIGRATION_GAOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-12-24-08-04-03

[sam sarrha]

1. so will citizens get the same Special treatment as non legals..

this is going to pull them in in like a magnet..

[wakeme2008]

2. This is Georgia BS

I do not know of ONE state that allows everybody to get in-state tuition. To get in-state tuition you HAVE to be a TAX paying member of that state. As long as you are paying Georgia income tax and sales tax, IMHO they would have a hard time saying they are not residents.