Georgia News(Week 10) - Immigration Reform

A recent article speaks of new immigration legislation proposed by Sen. Tim Golden (D-Valdosta) and Sen. Sam Zamarripa (D-Atlanta) that would " would grant the state's Board of Regents exclusive authority to set admissions and residency requirements for Georgia's public university system." The pair also suggested that the federal government implement immigration reform. The two senators cite their desire to "give motivated students — regardless of their legal status — the opportunity to pursue higher education." The article mentions two previous illegal immigration bills by Sen. Chip Rogers, one of which "sought to bar illegal immigrants from enrolling in state universities." Rogers says this bill is no longer "on the table," but, according to the article, Rogers is currently supporting "Senate Bill 170, a measure that would require persons to prove they are legal residents of Georgia to receive state services, such as in-state tuition benefits." Rogers cites a previous statute from the Clinton era preventing illegal immigrants from receiving "postsecondary education benefit[s]." This is an interesting case, as there seems to be a line drawn in the sand between Golden and Zamarripa and Rogers, as each feels differently about illegal immigrants and their rights. This situation, as the article mentions, should "be one of the biggest fights of the 2006 General Assembly."

Link: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/1205/02metimmigrant.html