State seeks limits on college admissions

JEFFERSON CITY — In the latest legislative swipe at illegal immigration in Missouri, the House gave initial approval Wednesday to a measure that would ban illegal immigrants from attending Missouri public colleges and universities.

The move followed House passage on Tuesday of a resolution that, if passed by the Senate and given voter approval, would make English the state’s language in all official proceedings.

The measure, which was given first-round approval Wednesday, would not only bar illegal immigrants from attending state universities, but would also require the registrars of each school to certify to the legislature that they have not admitted any illegal immigrants before the state approves higher education spending.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jerry Nolte, R-Gladstone, and other supporters of the bill say that the state should not be spending taxpayers’ dollars on educating illegal immigrants.

“Why should we subsidize someone who criminally enters the state?” Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, said. “Are we then subsidizing crime?”

Some Democrats say the bill is not only unnecessary, but could result in funding being denied to state colleges and universities.

Rep. Mike Daus, D-St. Louis, said the measure could place education appropriations committees under pressure to deny university funding if it’s found that an illegal immigrant slipped through the admissions process at a particular school.

“What happens in appropriations?” Daus said during House floor debate on the bill. “We strip money from people who do things we don’t like. I’m afraid that’s what will happen here.”

Nolte has said that, in general, Missouri’s colleges and universities do not admit illegal immigrants, but he still wants to codify the admittance process.

Democrats pressed him Wednesday to explain why the bill was needed when the rules are already followed and when it’s impossible to know how many — if any — illegal immigrants are attending the state’s universities.

“It’s a definite case where we’re making a mountain out of a mole hill,” said Rep. Pat Yaeger, D-St. Louis County.

Barbara Rupp, director of admissions for MU, said the university already takes the necessary steps to verify the status of applicants. She said that if the legislation passes, it “would not be an undue burden since we’re already doing it.”

Rupp said that if a prospective student is not a U.S. resident, they must provide a student visa and proof of funding for an entire year of school in advance. If they do not, Rupp said, they are not admitted to the university.

However, Rupp said that if a student indicates on their application that they are a U.S. resident and were born in the U.S., the university does not double-check whether the information is true. But Rupp added that an illegal immigrant who lied on their application would probably be discovered if they applied for financial aid.

Reps. Ed Robb, R-Columbia, and Jeff Harris, D-Columbia, voted in favor of the bill. Rep. Judy Baker, D-Columbia, voted against it.