Vol. 74/No. 41      November 1, 2010

The regents’ 14-2 vote prohibits public universities in Georgia from enrolling immigrants without papers at colleges and universities that supposedly had to turn away academically qualified applicants during the past two years because of a lack of space or other reasons.

Next fall this will apply to the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, Medical College of Georgia, and Georgia College & State University. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, 29 undocumented students are currently enrolled at these five campuses.

The new rules also require all of the state’s 35 campuses to verify the immigration status of admitted students seeking to pay in-state tuition rates.

“Everyone should have access to the more affordable in-state tuition,” Perasso countered. “The regents’ decision is part of the attacks on immigrants and all working people.

“The capitalist class needs a layer of super-exploited workers with less rights. So they are trying to convince us that immigrants are taking resources and jobs; that it should be ‘us’ against ‘them.’ But that’s a trap used to divide and weaken working people,” he said.

Some lawmakers plan to introduce a bill to extend the ban to all 35 state colleges and universities, saying the current ruling does not go far enough. Perasso’s main opponents, Democrat Roy Barnes and Republican Nathan Deal, say they support such a measure.

Georgia is one of three states that bars undocumented immigrants from higher education. The South Carolina government prohibits undocumented immigrants from all public colleges and the state of Alabama does not allow undocumented students to enter two-year community colleges.

Outside the Board of Regents meeting protesters carried signs that read, “Education not deportation.” Eva Cardenas, a Clayton State University sophomore, said the board’s decision “shows us that we must continue to fight for the basic right of education, and that’s for everyone, regardless of your document status. Let’s not go back to an era when we deny education to a certain group of people.”

Perasso pointed to the importance of protests last spring and summer against attempts to deport Kennesaw State University student Jessica Colotl, who came to the United States with her parents when she was 10 years old. “It was because of the fight of her sorority sisters, other students, and workers who marched last May 1 that she has been allowed to complete her classes this year,” he explained.

“I pledge that my campaign will support and help build all protests calling for the reversal of the Board of Regents’ decision. The SWP campaign calls for the legalization of all immigrants and an end to all deportations. We oppose all cuts in public education and say education at all levels should be accessible and free for all.”
 
 
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