Colleges bar illegal immigrants from enrollment
By Jill Coley
MYRTLE BEACH - Dayana Rodrigues carries a bucket of cleaning solutions and a vacuum with her to work. She used to clean houses to pay for college. Now, she is a career maid who speaks three languages.
Rodrigues, 20, graduated in the top 5 percent of her high school class in 2007 and completed nursing prerequisites at Horry-Georgetown Technical College - all A's and one B.
In January, the college refused to enroll the returning student because she is an undocumented immigrant. "You know it's not personal. But it is," she said.
The South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act became law in June 2008 and, among other measures, banned illegal immigrants from attending colleges and universities that receive state money.
South Carolina is the first to legalize such a ban, although other Southern states have restrictive policies. North Carolina and Alabama bar undocumented people from attending community colleges.
Read more in tomorrow's editions of The Post and Courier.
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Comments
twa (anonymous) says...
If this lady wishes to be a citizen of this land then she needs to go about it in a lawful manner. She has already enjoyed life here and a free education at someone else's expense. If she wants to go to college there are programs that will allow her the opportunity; I went through college with nationals.
February 14, 2009 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tim7676 (anonymous) says...
bye bye dayana
February 14, 2009 at 10:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seneca264 (anonymous) says...
"You know it's not personal. But it is,". Yes Dayana, it is very personal to me. I do not want illegals in our country. I don't care what country you illegally immigrated from. I identify you as "illegal", not your ethnicity. I wish you people would stop throwing the race card when you don't get what you want.
February 14, 2009 at 11:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JoanneH (anonymous) says...
Part of this does make me sad, but as the mother of two college students it doesn't. Obviously, this young woman is smart enough to do what she has done, but not smart enough to get the message: BECOME A CITIZEN. If her loyalty to her own country is such that she doesn't want to become a US citizen, she needs to return to her mother land.
February 14, 2009 at 11:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seneca264 (anonymous) says...
The illegals are nothing more than leaches. They have no loyalty to this country. If they did, they would seek citizenship just like everyone else.
February 14, 2009 at 11:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
singleroni (anonymous) says...
go back home. we can not afford you. why should we foot the bill for you!
February 14, 2009 at 1:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wucherer (anonymous) says...
This country was created by immigrants. Coming together for a common goal, building a democracy upon a set of rules and having a basic respect for people's differences. But there must be a limit which everyone coming to this country must abide. Even tho this great nation has survived while others have crumbled into dust those who want to enter the united states must abide by the same standing rules as everyone before them must going thru the process of becoming an american citizen. Understanding the laws of this grand country, respect for life and liberty. For those enter into this country should be returned since they entered not like the many who did it legally. Some of the illegals because of they birthed a child on the united states soil use their child as an anchor to stay in the country. Since the language of this land is english they should be required to learn the basic and understanding of the language of this country. Everyone deserves to be part of this country but those coming from other countries thru the illegal route should be barred the very first time they try to slip in. Once a foreign takes the oath and steps of becoming a citizen then their loyalty to the country from which they departed should be to the country they stay. God bless american, home of the brave and the land of the free.
February 14, 2009 at 2:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chucktonian (anonymous) says...
two words darling: GO HOME.
Either follow the process to becoming a citizen, or get out NOW.
February 14, 2009 at 2:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
Good for the state and the college. Start refusing them benefits of a US citizen and maybe they will go home.
February 14, 2009 at 2:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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