Missouri immigration bill could require citizenship checks to enroll in college
If bill passes, illegal immigrants can't attend
By: Andrew Denney from The Maneater
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: News
A bill that would prohibit the enrollment of illegal immigrants in Missouri colleges and universities was sent to the Missouri Senate last week after passing in the House of Representatives earlier this month.
The bill, if passed in the Senate, would require the registrar of each institution to annually certify they have not knowingly admitted a student that is an illegal immigrant.
Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Ann Korschgen said the current language of the bill - which would include students that have been admitted by the university but have not yet enrolled for classes - would complicate the admissions process if it is passed.
"We would have to spend an inordinate amount of time determining whether or not they have citizenship," Korschgen said.
Mizzou Admissions Director Barbara Rupp testified on the bill before it reached a vote in the House to change the language of bill to pertain to enrolled students.
State Rep. Jerry Nolte, R-Gladstone, the bill's sponsor, said in a March 13 news release that the bill would put a preexisting federal statute into state law, and said there are concerns about the use of taxpayers' money in higher education that might be used to educate illegal immigrants.
"We're accountable to the people of this state to spend their tax dollars primarily to educate Missouri students and those lawfully present," Nolte said. "We need to focus on Missouri families trying to educate their children. According to federal law it is illegal for a person not legally in the United States to enroll in a college or university. While we are obligated to educate children K-12 regardless of legal status, there is no requirement to provide post-secondary education."
State Rep. Edward Wildberger, D-St. Joseph, who voted against the measure, said Missouri colleges and universities have not complained about illegal immigrants in their institutions and that descendents of immigrants shouldn't be punished for the crimes of their parents.
The bill, if passed in the Senate, would require the registrar of each institution to annually certify they have not knowingly admitted a student that is an illegal immigrant.
Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Ann Korschgen said the current language of the bill - which would include students that have been admitted by the university but have not yet enrolled for classes - would complicate the admissions process if it is passed.
"We would have to spend an inordinate amount of time determining whether or not they have citizenship," Korschgen said.
Mizzou Admissions Director Barbara Rupp testified on the bill before it reached a vote in the House to change the language of bill to pertain to enrolled students.
State Rep. Jerry Nolte, R-Gladstone, the bill's sponsor, said in a March 13 news release that the bill would put a preexisting federal statute into state law, and said there are concerns about the use of taxpayers' money in higher education that might be used to educate illegal immigrants.
"We're accountable to the people of this state to spend their tax dollars primarily to educate Missouri students and those lawfully present," Nolte said. "We need to focus on Missouri families trying to educate their children. According to federal law it is illegal for a person not legally in the United States to enroll in a college or university. While we are obligated to educate children K-12 regardless of legal status, there is no requirement to provide post-secondary education."
State Rep. Edward Wildberger, D-St. Joseph, who voted against the measure, said Missouri colleges and universities have not complained about illegal immigrants in their institutions and that descendents of immigrants shouldn't be punished for the crimes of their parents.
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