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‘No federal law bars out-of-status aliens from enrolling’
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Posted on Dec 01 2011
By Moneth Deposa
Reporter
Reporter
International students and nonresident workers who have no immigration status can still enroll at any local college because federal law does not prohibit them from doing so, according to Northern Marianas College president Sharon Hart.
She pointed out that research conducted by NMC showed that no provision in U.S. Public Law 110-229, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, prohibits out-of-status aliens from enrolling at any college.
NMC shortened its fall semester this year to meet the needs of international enrollees. The fall semester starts in August and traditionally ends in December. Hart adjusted this from Aug. 22 to Nov. 26-two days before the expiration of the CNMI Department of Labor-issued umbrella permit on Nov. 28, 2011.
“The fall 2011 semester has ended. But one thing we discovered was that no federal law prohibits these students and alien workers who have no immigration status from attending public higher education,” Hart told Saipan Tribune, adding that they are free to enroll at the college.
The president said NMC strictly follows both local and federal laws and “if the law says there is something against it, I will follow it. But right now, I am not going to dispute what’s in the federal law.”
International students represent about 22 percent of NMC’s population, which has close to a thousand students every semester.
Hart could not say for now if this clarification will result in higher enrollments among international students.
Meantime, during Monday’s Board of Regents meeting, Hart reported that the college petitioned five employees for H-1 visas. She said these nonresident workers have been serving NMC for many years and occupy key positions that are considered hard to fill.
Hart also reported that due to some immigration problems, one of its contractors and seven contract employees were relieved of their positions. Most of them were maintenance staff, security guards, and custodians.
“These contract workers have been serving our college for more than 12 years and it’s really sad to see them go,” she told the board.
