Some sanity prevails
The state board of education passed a new policy Thursday denying illegal immigrants admission to Alabama’s two-year colleges despite one board member’s calls to delay it for more discussion and four of the nine members being absent.
The policy, which takes effect next spring, was passed on a 4-0 vote, with Ethel Hall of Fairfield abstaining. Four board members — David Byers of Birmingham, Ella Bell of Montgomery, Sandra Ray of Tuscaloosa and Gov. Bob Riley — were not at the meeting, which was held in Pell City.
Hall said she was hesitant to vote because there was only a brief discussion when the policy was first presented to the board at a work session two weeks ago.
“I don’t think we’ve done the kind of research we need to do in order to approve the policy,” she said before describing how her brushes with racial discrimination — such as being denied admission to the University of Alabama despite extensive qualifications — added to her reluctance.
Research? What research is needed? They are not legal citizens of the United States or Alabama. They broke federal law. They are not entitled to the rights and benefits of legal citizens.
Of course, the article has to mention the need for people to show ID to register. Oh, the horror! The massive burden! I mean, it is just so damned hard and expensive to get an ID as a valid Alabama citizen. It takes years, and costs something like $100,000 to get a drivers…..huh? It costs $23? Can get one by simply passing a test? Or, get a State ID for $17? Most adults have one? Oh, man.
