Illegals sue over college entrance

The Washington Times | September 4, 2003 | Mary Shaffrey

[Dante3]

A group of Hispanic illegal immigrants sued seven state colleges and universities yesterday in federal court, claiming the schools denied them admission because of their immigration status.

The lawsuit . . . says the schools' presidents and rectors are following ill-conceived legal advice from state Attorney General Jerry W. Gilgore, who last fall issued an opinion recommending that all Virginia colleges deny admission to illegal immigrants and suggeting that admissions officers report potentially illegal applicants to federal authorities. . .

Andres Tobar, co-chairman of the Immigrant Legal Rights Coalition, said Mr. Kilgore's policy punishes hundreds of high school students whose illegal status is no fault of their own, inasmuch as they were brought in the United States by their parents. . .

Marlinda Palpido, of Alexandria, agreed. Mrs. Palpido, 33, said she wouldn't be were she is now if she hadn't graduated from Virginia Tech . . . Mrs. Palpido was an illegal immigrant until she got married in 1997.

"I am now working as an engineer as a Navy contractor, but if they had closed the doors, I would probably be a nanny or a cook," she said.

Mr. Kilgore said through a spokesman that he will defend the schools.

"It seems as if they are attempting to force Virginia colleges and universities to accept illegal aliens," spokesman Timothy Murtaugh said. . .

Five of the six plaintiffs are identified only as Jane Doe I, II and III and John Doe I and II, and either attend or have graduated from Virginia public schools. The other plaintiff is Equal Access Education, a group of Northern Virginia immigrants and their families and friends.

The identities of the five students, all of whom are natives of Central and South American countries, were not revealed because none of them are U.S. citizens or alwful permanent resdidents, according to the lawsuit. . .

Tisha Tallman, regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), said some of them hold Temporary Protective Status visas, but had not been granted permanent residence. MALDEF is a civil rights organization that is spearheading the lawsuit. . .

Mr. Murtaugh said Virginia is not trying to set immigration policy, but rather to ensure everyone follows the law. "These anonymous plaintiffs are readily admitting they are not following the law," he said. "It's unfair to those who have followed the process legally."

[Dante3]

This is like something out of the Twilight Zone. Criminals suing for special perks!

[Dante3]

fyi

[magslinger]

ping

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

CRIMINAL INVADERS use our laws to sue Americans!
They should be put in jail until their country
pays all court costs and then sent back COD!

[freeangel]

And the "It's not my fault" legal battle eats away at more of our tax dollars because of the slimy , ILLEGAL behavior from their ILLEGAL parents. What should happen is that a judge should say to go and sue--THEIR PARENTS for gross negligence.

[goldstategop]

Let me get this: a higher education is an entitlement now? That comes as news to most Americans who have to pay tuition, room and board and meals for their college education...

[bitcon]

Makes me sick. They can show up in the country get an education at a public school free of charge then go to university/college probably at the normal fee of a local student. All this and I can't even get a green card to serve.

[gunnedah]

This is because of our elected leaders not having the courage to take a stand. They all want these illegal votes to keep their kingdoms.
At least one in nine of our citizens were not even born in America and look at the illegals. They almost control our country through the ballot box and the liberals are even opening it up more so to them.
In this century America will see that the fighting like Israel and Palestine will be common to America, wait and see.

[David Isaac]

I am loath to admit this, but when I was a teenager, my parents robbed a bank (it was just a little bank) and used the money to put me through college. Today I am a sensitivity trainer for a Fortune 500 company and PCing my way to financial security.

The story you have just read is a ficticious account intended for illustration only.

[Savage Beast]

"Liberals"/Democrats will be beating the drum in support of the criminals; that's how these people stay in office.

[coincheck]

ok, let me see if i've got this straight
1)ILLEGAL immigrants are taking a college in the USA to court because they were deneid admission.
2)I assume that these ILLEGAL immigrants have an AMERICAN lawyer who should be reporting this to the INS (but is not)
3)these ILLEGAL immigrants probably have a good chance of winning because they will probably get a SOCIALIST democrat activist judge(who is not biased at all) to rule in their favor.
only in america
coincheck

[blanknoone]

It seems to me that under American law we have the right to face our accusers...make them show up in court, and have the INS standing by.

[MEG33]

I like your thinking.

[Vesuvian]

Boy, and I thought they were out of their minds demanding the local tuition rates. Pretty soon they'll get paid to go to college.

[BeerSwillr]

Immigrant Legal Rights Coalition

These idiots don't even see the lunacy of their organization's name.

How they can have an organization name with the word "legal" in it just makes me sick.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Mrs. Palpido was an illegal immigrant until she got married in 1997.

"I am now working as an engineer as a Navy contractor,..."

Really? And how did she recieve a security clearance? Oh yeah, I forgot. During the impeached X42's administration, staffing for security background investigations was greatly reduced.

The Virginia Court should throw this suit out as frivilous now.

[upchuck]

Why did I have to see this first thing in the morning? Now I'll be pissed off all day long. Grrrrrrr!

IMHO the invasion by millions^* of CRIMINAL aliens is possibly more important than "the war on terrorism." This invasion will/is having a serious affect on our country.

^* - I wrote millions because I have seen this number used other places. But does anybody know of an accurate number? The INS sure as hell doesn't!

[alloysteel]

There is a specific visa issued for foreign nationals to enter the US as legal residents, for the purpose of attending an institution of higher learning. And hundreds of thousands have exercised this very option, coming from every corner of the world. But only Hispanic applicants think the rules should not apply. Why is this?

[DC native]

They are using our stupidity as a weapon against us. You reap what you sow and we have been bending over for the leftists for 40 years. Now the law of physics is taking effect and we are receiving that which happens when you bend over.

[whd23]

Would it be too much to ask for a couple of INS officers to show up at the court house to arrest and DEPORT the illegals?
< sarcasm>I know they're busy and all, but these situations would seem like a slam-dunk case. <\sarcasm>