Illegals Sues Virginia Colleges

Washington Times ^ | September 3, 2003 | Mary Shaffrey

[CJ Wolf]

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, made public yesterday, says the schools' presidents and rectors are following ill-conceived legal advice from state Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore, who last fall issued an opinion recommending that all Virginia colleges deny admission to illegal immigrants and suggesting that admissions officers report potentially illegal applicants to federal authorities. The schools are George Mason University, James Madison University, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), the Northern Virginia Community College system and the College of William & Mary. 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 to the United States by their parents. "We can't deny a whole generation of students the rights to an education," he said. "As you know, it takes eight to 10 years to open the doors to be legal ... [but now students] in fifth, sixth, eighth, and 10th grade are seeing the doors [to education] being closed." Marlinda Palpido, of Alexandria, agreed. Mrs. Palpido, 33, said she wouldn't be where she is now if she hadn't graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in electrical engineering in 1996. 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. Mr. Kilgore, a Republican, was out of town on business yesterday and could not be reached for comment. 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 high 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 lawful permanent residents, according to the lawsuit. The students' attorneys said in a written statement that some of the students affected by Mr. Kilgore's stance have Social Security numbers and work authorizations and pay federal and state taxes. 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. Larry Hincker, associate vice president of university relations for Virginia Tech, said the university would not have denied admission to students based on their immigration status. But he said students would have been ineligible to enroll until they presented proper documentation proving legal residence. Pam Lebley, a spokeswoman for VCU, said her school did not admit illegal immigrants without proper documentation. Officials from the five other schools referred calls to Mr. Kilgore's office. Ms. Tallman said Mr. Kilgore's opinion usurps the role of federal immigration authorities, as delegated by Congress. 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." There are no hard numbers on how many illegal immigrants graduate from Virginia schools each year. Immigration advocates said the number is "in the hundreds, not the thousands." The MALDEF lawsuit does not address the issue of requiring undocumented students to pay out-of-state tuition.

[mtbopfuyn]

What part of "illegal" do they not understand?

I'm sure there are several universities in their country of origin that would admit them.

[Puppage]

Why don't WE, sue the illegals?

[CJ Wolf]

no one would take that case. lol

[Space Wrangler]

How does an 'illegal immigrant' even have the right to a civil suit? Will a judge let this lawsuit go forward? Never mind, I'm sure they'll find some lib judge to bend the rules to allow this to go on. I guess they aren't happy with busting the medical and welfare systems, now they have to break our educational system for good measure. This is an attack. There's no blood, no deaths, and no wounded, but it is an attack none the less.

[iceskater]

You guys seen this????

I hope Jerry Kilgore sticks to his guns on this one. Waaaay, waaay beyond ridiculous.

Illegal is illegal. If they really want to go to Va. Tech, then fill out the d*** paperwork to be legal.

[lilylangtree]

Deport the illegals. "Illegal" means against the law. They shouldn't be in the country anyway let alone use the judicial system for their own purposes.

[Corin Stormhands]

If they really want to go to Va. Tech, then fill out the d*** paperwork to be legal.

Exactly. We were going over Tech's admission requirements with my son last night. I explained to him that Dad had no strings to pull. I'd be really pissed if he didn't get in but some illegals did.

Thanks for the ping. I have confidence that Jerry will do the right thing.

[Puppage]

no one would take that case

Not even Johnny La Cooka Racha Cochran?

[Moose4]

This is so freaking simple.

Senors Juan Doe I and II, and Senoritas Juanita Doe I, II, and III, can reapply to those fine Virginia public universities (one of which, JMU, is my alma mater) as soon as they achieve permanent resident status. And I hope, if they have the grades and the other attributes, that they are then accepted and get a good education.

Until then, they are free to stay the hell out of those schools and not cost the taxpayers of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the USA any more money. I'm sure each of their countries of origin has institutions of higher learning that they could attend, since they are citizens of those countries still. They are NOT citizens of the United States or of Virginia, and not here on a legal student visa; therefore they do not have the right or privilege to attend public universities in Virginia.

Like I said, simple. So simple, a liberal can't grok it.

Oh, and if its ascertained in the briefs that their parents came here illegally, and that's the reason the six plaintiffs are here...well, then we'll need a bigger plane to send 'em ALL back south, won't we?

}:-)4

[Texas_Jarhead]

In Houston Texas along the South side of IH-59 near downtown sits the Mexican Consulate General. Within the grounds of the consulate resides a billboard. On the billboard - an advertisement for MALDEF.

[iceskater]

I'd be really pissed if he didn't get in but some illegals did.

Then you could counter-sue. Wouldn't that just get a few knickers in a twist?!

[FormerLib]

A group of Hispanic illegal immigrants sued seven state colleges and universities yesterday in federal court...

Why are they not being immediately deported?

[DonPaulJonesII]

I'm beginning to wonder why I even bother to read this garbage anymore. All that it does is get me all worked up and I know, I KNOW, that nothing at all will be done.

I have discovered, much to my dismay, that 99.9999999% of all so-called conservatives won't do anything other than cluck their tongues. You can tax a conservative to death and all he or she will do is whine. You can take a conservative's 2nd Amendment rights away, and again, you can hear the whining. Hell, you can take a dump on the Constitution and NOTHING WILL BE DONE. There may have been individuals of conviction 225 years ago but the mold that made them was obviously destroyed and we are left with the tongue-cluckers. All talk and absolutely no action. If the so-called conservative movement is all that stands between us and out-and-out socialism, let's just pack it in and be done with it. All power and glory be to the STATE...I am absolutely sickened by the apathy I see.

No matter what the liberals do, conservatives are far too superior to ever respond or to draw the line in the sand. After living through 8 years of gut wrenching hell at the hands of the Clintons, I foolishly believed that things would be different. Shame on me for believing that the hoity-toity conservatives would ever deign to get their hands dirty.

I realize that this does not apply to everyone here, but it does apply to the overwhelming majority. As sick to death of the liberals as I am, I am even more appalled by the scale of COWARDICE exhibited by so-called conservatives.

I'm through ranting now and to anyone to whom the shoe fits, please, please, please flame away as I am in the mood to show you what a spineless, backboneless jellyfish you are... ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

[SoothingDave]

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 lawful permanent residents, according to the lawsuit.

It would seem to me, a simple man, that if they are neither citizens nor legal residents, that they have no standing to sue in our courts.

SD

[Robert Drobot]

Legal bump to dump illegals!

[y2k_free_radical]

BOO HOO-why don't they attend MEXICAN universities

[y2k_free_radical]

AMEN-I'M WITH YOU

[evad]

Not even Johnny La Cooka Racha Cochran?

No, not even Johnny La Cocka Roacha Cochran :)

[sultan88]

Well, Michael Graham of WRVA, was going off on this tonight. It was good to see Michael outraged over something serious, for once.

[Corin Stormhands]

You mean he finally stopped talking about Short Pump Mall?