Residents Advise Legislators
Transportation, immigration span range of measures introduced in General Assembly.
Mirza Kurspahic
January 16, 2008
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=92421&paper=71&cat=104
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION was another prominent topic on Saturday, with discussions ranging from incarceration to public education. Herndon resident Beth Hardesty asked Rust and Howell to urge legislators in Richmond to grant in-state tuition eligibility to undocumented students applying for studies in Virginia’s colleges and universities. "We support them K-12," said Hardesty, adding that cutting them off and denying undocumented students access to college education is counterproductive to the efforts of supporting their education through high school. She said granting access to college education would develop contributing members to this society.
Rust argued that an executive order signed in 1996 by former President Bill Clinton makes it impossible for Virginia, or any other state, to make exceptions for undocumented students for in-state tuition eligibility. If the exception was made for undocumented students, it would have to be made for all students, argued Rust. "Until the federal law is changed, I and Attorney General are both in agreement, nothing can be done," he said.
Howell said Rust’s assertions were open to interpretations.
She said she met a number of seniors at South Lakes High School during a
Veterans Day lesson in November who asked her to make it possible for them to
attend college. "I do not want these young people to have their dreams dashed,
to have angry young people on the streets," said Howell.