State strips schools of $3.5 million (students asked about their immigration status)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | February 24, 2006 | ROSALIND ROSSI

[Cincinatus' Wife]

State Board of Education officials, led by an angry Mexican-American chairman, stripped Elmwood Park School District 401 of all state funding Thursday, saying officials there had illegally asked at least two potential students about their immigration status.

.....For state board Chairman Jesse Ruiz, Elmwood Park's treatment of two kids -- one from Ecuador seeking high school admission, and another from the Czech Republic seeking to attend middle school -- struck close to home.

....."As the son of a Mexican American who was here illegally for eight years, you would have denied me an education,'' an angry Ruiz told Elmwood Park officials during the board's monthly meeting. "You are not supposed to discriminate against any children based on any immigration status.''

Immigration questions shouldn't even be asked during enrollment, he said.

Elmwood Park District 401 attorney Jack Murphy insisted the district was merely trying to follow federal immigration laws barring a person on a temporary B-2 visa from enrolling in a school.

The federal government has been cracking down on enforcement of that provision ever since some of the 9/11 terrorists got into the United States on B-2 visas and went on to illegally take classes here, said Murphy.

[saveliberty]

....."As the son of a Mexican American who was here illegally for eight years, you would have denied me an education,'' an angry Ruiz told Elmwood Park officials during the board's monthly meeting. "You are not supposed to discriminate against any children based on any immigration status.''

This speaks volumes.

[Born Conservative]

If you have asked to be added to this list, and haven’t been receiving the pings, please let me know. I’ve had a problem with my file synchronization between my home and work computer, and apparently have lost some names on the list. I think I have the problem fixed, and will gladly re-add your name.

[oh8eleven]

saying officials there had illegally asked at least two potential students about their immigration status.
If people are here illegally and that's okay to this guy, why isn't it okay to illegally ask their status?

[hflynn]

....."As the son of a Mexican American who was here illegally for eight years, you would have denied me an education,'' an angry Ruiz told Elmwood Park officials during the board's monthly meeting. "You are not supposed to discriminate against any children based on any immigration status.''

I would have deported your entire family back to Mexico. The good thing is I would have done it in time for you to get your education in the country responsible for it.

[starbase]

"As the son of a Mexican American who was here illegally for eight years, you would have denied me an education,'' an angry Ruiz told Elmwood Park...

You're right, you self righteous SOB, I would have. What arrogance! Makes me sick. This is what it looks like when the criminals (literally, in this case) feel like they should be running the asylum.

Fortunately the winds of change are blowing inexorably against this crap going forward.

[tfecw]

"If people are here illegally and that's okay to this guy, why isn't it okay to illegally ask their status?"

I'm going to have to set up a liberal cowoker of mine just so i can ask that question.

[msnimje]

"I have been here breaking the law for a very long time and should be rewarded for that!"

[Woodstock]

....."As the son of a Mexican American who was here illegally for eight years, you would have denied me an education,'' an angry Ruiz told Elmwood Park officials during the board's monthly meeting. "You are not supposed to discriminate against any children based on any immigration status

Good Lord...

[ketelone]

Wow... thats going a bit far. This guy is wrong on several different levels.

For one thing, theres the isue of the fact that his parents (and presumably he) were in the US illegally!

Then the fact, that if he cares so much about these kids education, whys he denying their school funding, so it becomes a dump???

[FilthyHands]

....."As the son of a Mexican American who was here illegally for eight years, you would have denied me an education,''

It seems to me that he was denied an education.

Lawbreakers are entitled to NOTHING!

[Jane Austen]

Obviously Ruiz should face criminal charges and be deported.

Considering the extensive proof people in my community have to provide to establish residence in our school district, I fail to see that the school did anything wrong.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

San Jacinto anyone?

[muawiyah]

Guy also said the folks doing this would have denied him an education ~ little good that education has done him.

Anyone checked on his immigration status yet?

[starbase]

If people are here illegally and that's okay to this guy, why isn't it okay to illegally ask their status?

Superb deduction!

[Flightdeck]

Good God, what is it about the word 'illegal' that these people don't understand?

[saveliberty]

I am sure he's all set now

[SouthernFreebird]

We shouldn't be arresting people at this point for any crimes. How do you enforce one law and not others...? I'm so damn sick of people who break our laws, steal our education money, welfare money, medical funds and thinking they are entitled to it all. I swear I'm not voting for another person unless they address this invasion. I don't give a rip if Democrats are in control for the next 20 years! I won't waste my time in the voting line to put in yet another Republican who won't do the job he is suppose to. I have no more respect for Bush at this point. He's become the joke he was portrayed as.

[pikachu]

The other great thing is that educrats can not as if the kids has all of their immunization shots Be-Cause it may be seen as discriminating against those from countries where they do not get those shots. So what if the other kid has polio!

By the way in California, the lice incidence went way up after this became the rule. SO it's a head scratcher in more than one way!

[Delta 21]

You obviously dont understand the concept of "The Liberal Double Standard".



(...but I knew you did :)