Arrogant … in a word … is the best way to describe today’s announcement by North Carolina Community College System (NCCS) President Martin Lancaster.
If previously it seemed that the NCCS thinks itself above the law, Lancaster’s remarks leave no doubt. Lancaster comments that this policy is “the right law and policy.” Yet, we have already seen that this policy not only violates federal and state laws, but the community college system’s own codes of conduct.
Second, Lancaster considers it irrelevant that his office has been inundated with calls and emails from citizens who are angry over this policy change. He also seems oblivious to months of polling by Civitas and others that shows that North Carolina voters do not want to extend educational and other benefits to illegal immigrants. Again, the message is clear: the NCCS thinks itself above the law.
A second word we might use to describe Lancaster’s missive … misleading.
Consider the following points:
Illegal immigrants over the age of 18 are not children. They are adults. Even if these immigrants came here as children, once they turn 18 they are adults. At that point, they must choose whether to continue to break the law or whether to go back home. The fact that their parents broke the law does not force these young adults to also break the law. Moreover, illegal immigrants are not being denied educational opportunities. As adults, they can seek an education anywhere in the world — including in the United States. They need only apply for a student visa, or go back to their native country to study.
The secret to success in a global economy … high-skilled labor … high-skilled, legal labor. If we want to grow North Carolina’s economy, we need to create policies aimed at training native workers and legal immigrants. Instead, we are choosing to base our economic growth on black-market, unskilled labor. Why not enforce our immigration laws like nearly every other country that is a vital member of the global economy?
Finally, make no mistake about it, this policy is being used as a wedge to grant in-state tuition to illegal aliens. The same arguments — regarding fairness and the creation of an underclass — will then be used by the federal government to grant a blanket amnesty to every illegal alien enrolled in college or university in the United States. In short, this is the Dream Act for North Carolina — amnesty and benefits for immigrants who have learned the lesson that it doesn’t pay to obey the law in America.
Of course, none of these problems would exist today … if only we had secured the border.
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