The Raleigh-based national organization ALIPAC, credited with defeating in-state tuition for illegal immigrants in North Carolina back in 2005, is now targeting Governor Mike Easley’s administration over a recent decision to allow illegal immigrants into all community colleges. Governor Easley (D-NC) is widely criticized for previously issuing hundreds of thousands of driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants—an issue that led to widespread backlash against New York Governor Spitzer when he considered a similar policy.
David Sullivan, an attorney for NC Community Colleges, claims that admitting illegal immigrants will not burden North Carolina taxpayers, as they would be charged out-of-state tuition. However, many North Carolinians are unaware that provisions quietly passed into law years ago actually qualify illegal immigrants for in-state tuition at community colleges.
“The public was outraged in 2005, with polls showing over 80% opposition to in-state tuition for illegal immigrants,” said ALIPAC spokesperson William Gheen. “When Republicans discovered that Democrats had already granted in-state tuition for illegal aliens at community colleges, they tried to change the law, but Democrats blocked them.”
In response to the failed legislation and discovery of these provisions, State Senator Neil Hunt (R-Raleigh) proposed an amendment to the state budget in 2005 to remove the language offering in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. The amendment passed unanimously in the NC Senate but was later removed behind closed doors by an all-Democrat conference committee.
“Governor Mike Easley is now becoming a national figure for supporting illegal immigration, just like New York’s Governor Spitzer,” Gheen continued. “We are calling on the Governor to immediately reverse this decision, as it violates federal law, and we should not be training illegal immigrants for jobs they cannot legally hold.”
ALIPAC is urging Governor Easley to rescind the order allowing illegal immigrants to attend community colleges and is calling on the state legislature to convene an emergency session to address the issue. Additionally, the organization is asking candidates for state office to express their opposition to the measure.
