Ban on illegals in college rejected

RICHMOND — A Virginia Senate panel yesterday defeated a measure that would have banned illegal aliens from attending state colleges and universities.

The Senate Education and Health Committee rejected the bill 12-3. The House had passed the measure 67-28 earlier this month.

Supporters said illegals should not be granted the “privilege” of higher education and not be allowed to take spots at top colleges away from students who are here legally. Opponents compared the proposal to when blacks were forbidden from attending Virginia schools.

“We were denied the possibility of going to our state universities, and I don’t want to see you all make the same mistake again,” said committee member Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert III, Richmond Democrat who is black. “My dad and mom had jobs and paid taxes, and I could not go to the University of Virginia, I could not go to Virginia Tech, I could not go to William and Mary and I have never forgotten it.”

Mr. Lambert said attending college is a right.

“I’d much rather see them in school than on the streets robbing people,” he said.

Delegate Thomas D. Gear, Hampton Republican, defended his bill.

“What part of ‘illegal’ don’t they understand? If they are illegal, they are illegal,” he said. “Going to college is not a right, it’s a privilege.”

Committee Chairman H. Russell Potts Jr., Winchester Republican who is considering a run for governor, has said barring those who are here illegally hurts the American dream.

The bill was rejected after some heated exchanges between its supporters and committee member Sen. Richard L. Saslaw, Fairfax County Democrat.

Mr. Saslaw noted that one of the first U.S. military casualties in the war in Iraq had entered the country illegally.

“What you’re saying is that it’s OK to die for America, but we don’t want you going to college here in Virginia,” Mr. Saslaw said, prompting an angry outburst from the audience. “That’s exactly the net effect of what you are saying.”

Mr. Saslaw also criticized the notion that illegals take away slots from Virginia students. Because illegals are required to pay out-of-state tuition, they actually are taking slots away from out-of-state students, he said.

Mr. Saslaw also said that because aliens pay taxes, they are contributing to the state’s higher education system.

Jack Martin, a representative from the Federation for American Immigration Reform, said there are about 16,000 illegal aliens enrolled in the state’s elementary schools and asked the committee to pass the bill.

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