State Council of Higher Education Advocates Illegals Admissions

The State Council of Higher Education charged with regulating higher education in Virginia has overstepped its mandate to advocate the inclusion of illegal aliens in admission to Virginia collages.

The council authorized its executive director to voice support in the legislature for admitting illegal immigrants to Virginia's public institutions of higher education.

The council emphasized that its position on the issue is under review and is evolving as more information becomes available.

Vice Chairman Bittle W. Porterfield III of Roanoke said illegal immigrants are living openly in Virginia and not much of an effort is being made to remove them.

Council Chairman Alan Wurtzel of Delaplane said that if illegal immigrants have access to higher education, they can contribute to the economy rather than being a burden to it.

Council member James W. Dyke Jr. of Richmond urged the panel to take a position on educating illegal immigrants, saying it was sure to be an issue in the legislature.

Here is an example of backwards rational. They are saying since the government is not dealing with the problem of illegal immigration it should give the benefits of citizenship to them. In other words, preemptive surrender to illegal activity. The people's representatives want the issue to be dealt with, but three years ago the Governor rejected a law that would have prevented such a measure. Part of the statute that creates the council precludes them from advocating the legislature make changes to the law. They would do better to stay within their mandate and leave elected officials to do theirs.

Section 23-9.6:1 of the Code of Virginia assigns SCHEV 20 general duties in its coordination of Virginia's system of higher education. In fulfilling these duties, the Council may not affect, either directly or indirectly, the selection of faculty or the standards and criteria for admission of any public institution, whether related to academic standards, residence or other criteria. The intention of this section is that faculty selection and student admission policies shall remain a function of the individual institutions.

The problem with illegal immigration is exacerbated by people such as these who as officials of the state accommodate the problem. Other jurisdictions are building day labor centers in opposition to constituents wishes. The federal government fiddles while border states take up the effort to keep foreigners from crossing illegally. The biggest impediment to controlling illegal immigration is the powers that be don't treat it as a crime.