Free Republic

Washington (CNN) -- The U.S. Army's new ban on many types of ethnic hairstyles has African-American women who wear their coifs in dreadlocks, braids and cornrows in a twist. The Army's regulations stipulate such guidance as hair "must be of uniform dimension, small in diameter (approximately ¼ inch), show no more than 1/8 (inch) of the scalp between the braids." Dreadlocks "against the scalp or free-hanging" are banned. "Unkempt" or "matted" braids and cornrows are also considered dreadlocks and "are not authorized," according to the regulations that were updated this month. It's that type of language, words like "unkempt" and...

SEATTLE, WA - For illegal immigrant teenagers with college ambitions, Washington state is the place to be. It's one of only 10 states that offer in-state tuition to undocumented students at public universities and colleges. In most other states, illegal teens have to pay non-resident or international rates. But even though help is available, few students are signing up. Chana Joffe-Walt reports on the barriers to an affordable education. Francisco was the type of kid in high school who could really get in your nerves. The study body president type - uber-energetic, really hard-working and friendly to everyone: I was...

MEXICO CITY — Mexico sent a diplomatic note to the U.S. government on Monday saying a plan to build hundreds of miles of fencing on their common border would damage relations. President-elect Felipe Calderon urged U.S. officials to reconsider the plan, saying one "could stop more migrants with a kilometer of new roads and development (in Mexico) than with a wall." In the letter to the U.S. State Department, Mexico's Foreign Relations Department said only comprehensive reform could stem the tide of illegal immigrants heading north in search of work. "The diplomatic note explains that the construction of this barrier...