NAACP calls for greater college access for undocumented students

Raleigh, N.C. — Local civil rights groups on Monday used the Christmas holiday as an opportunity to call for greater access to community college for illegal immigrants.

The North Carolina chapter of the NAACP and immigrant rights advocates said students who are in the country illegally have a hard time paying for community college because they don't qualify for student loans or most scholarships.

They're also charged higher out-of-state tuition rates, even if they've lived and paid taxes in North Carolina all their lives.

NAACP President Rev. William Barber said the state should offer in-state tuition rates to those who want to go to college.

"In the midst of all the tinsel and the Christmas trees and the lights of Christmas, we should be reminded of a truth that Christmas teaches us," Barber said. "That is that we should not push people out. We should bring people in."

State leaders considered changing the tuition rules several years ago, but the proposal failed.

Opponents have said that seats in the community college system should be reserved for legal residents only.

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Latest Comments

Thanks westernwake1, but I'm afraid pene2 doesn't want to be educated. They only want to feel superior to the locals. I'm not a local but I have been here long enough to know there is a lot to learn from the locals when you stop telling them how they should think and how they should do things.

iamd74
December 28, 2012 12:24 p.m.

'"kacj82"

Perhaps you would be happier sticking closer to home than and allowing us in the Adirondacks to worry about our wildlife.' - piene2

OK. Only those who own land in the Adirondacks should speak up. I own land in the Adirondacks. The biggest issue we face each spring is finding dead underweight deer all over the property that starved to death during the winter. The primary issue is under-hunting leading to an over-population of deer that is not sustainable. kac82 is correct. It is illegal to feed the deer, and feeding the deer hurts rather than helps the health of the deer population.

Here is the NY State DEC link outlining why feeding deer, bear, and moose is illegal in New York and why it is harmful. -

http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/74763.html

http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/74763.html

westernwake1
December 28, 2012 11:59 a.m.

" kacj82"

Perhaps you would be happier sticking closer to home than and allowing us in the Adirondacks to worry about our wildlife.

piene2
December 28, 2012 9:43 a.m.

KiKinc, I didn't say hunting is illegal in NY, I said feeding deer is illegal and explained why. Pene2 bragged about feeding the deer in the Adirondacks, I pointed out this is illegal and harmful to the deer. On the day a allstate study came out ranking Fayetteville safer for driving than any city in NY pene2 was ranting about drivers in Fayetteville. My point is pene2 can demonstrate a great lack of knowledge while talking down to the locals. PS--I lived in the Albany area, camped and fished in the Adirondacks, went to hot air ballon launchs in Glen Falls, and went to the American Grand Prix in Watkins Glen. Found NY to be a great state with many wonderful people, don't know why you thought I insulted them, please reread the post.

iamd74
December 27, 2012 5:40 p.m.

"some of the best engineers I've worked with happened to be Mexican. Those guys are creative, work long hours and are real geniuses. Never complain about anything and make a harmonious workplace." - bombayrunner

Some of the best engineers I have worked with are U.S. citizens. Unfortunately many of them can not get jobs now because H1-B visa people are taking their jobs at half the market salary totally disrupting supply-demand employment structure of the U.S. IT sector. Of course, the companies are more interested in cheap over good as they bribe politicans to allow even more H1-B workers into the country. In the meantime, the IT products, code, and services continue to decline in quality to the point that many are nearly useless.

westernwake1
December 27, 2012 4:31 p.m.