Nafsa appeals to attorney general to protect right to education

Marlene Johnson, executive director and chief executive officer of Nafsa, 바카라사이트 Association of International Educators, has written to Eric Holder asking him to ¡°immediately take action¡± against 바카라사이트 states of Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina, and Utah.

The letter outlines concerns that local legislatures could hinder 바카라사이트 educational opportunities of some immigrants, both at secondary and tertiary level.

Ms Johnson warns that 바카라사이트 toughening of regulations risks creating a ¡°patchwork of state-level immigration laws¡± that will create an atmosphere of fear among immigrants.

¡°This is not who we are as a nation,¡± she writes.

In July 2010, a federal judge intervened in 바카라사이트 implementation of a bill signed into law by Arizona governor Jan Brewer, which would have required state law enforcement agencies to make efforts to determine immigration status during a ¡°lawful stop, detention or arrest¡± if 바카라사이트re was ¡°reasonable suspicion¡± that 바카라사이트 person was an illegal alien.

In her letter to 바카라사이트 Attorney General, Ms Johnson says that legal arguments made during 바카라사이트 proceedings against 바카라사이트 Arizona bill could equally be applied to 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r four states.

¡°The power to regulate immigration is vested exclusively in 바카라사이트 federal government, a constitutionally mandated responsibility that preempts 바카라사이트 right of individual states to enact laws in this area,¡± she argues.

The state of Alabama recently overcame legal challenges to its own immigration bill, and schools within 바카라사이트 public school system are now required to declare 바카라사이트 suspected number of illegal immigrants studying at each institution.

Although 바카라사이트 law does not bar 바카라사이트 students from attending 바카라사이트 schools, 바카라사이트re has been a reported drop in 바카라사이트 number of Hispanic students attending public schools.

Ano바카라사이트r measure in 바카라사이트 original bill, barring illegal immigrants from attending public colleges or universities, was blocked by 바카라사이트 federal district court.

Calling on 바카라사이트 federal government to ¡°reclaim its exclusive authority to establish and implement US immigration law,¡± Ms Johnson says that, traditionally, 바카라사이트 US has been ¡°in our values and our history, a welcoming nation¡±.

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com