Georgia House Bill 87, also known as the Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011, was enacted in Georgia in 2011, following a similar law enacted by the state of Arizona. According to this law, all state employers and employers who have ten or more employees must electronically verify those employees through the United States Department of Homeland Security. Employees must be verified as legally present within the state. They must also be verified as who their documentation says they are. House Bill 87 also provides that punishments will be given for hiring or harboring illegal aliens as well as those who represent themselves falsely using false documentation. Finally, this law enables law enforcement to check the legal status of any person at any time with probable cause. To read more in depth information about this bill please visit this government site, __http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/display/32190__.
How it affects education
As an extension of this law the Georgia State Board of Regents put into effect policy 4.1.6. This policy (2011) states,”A person who is not lawfully present in the United States shall not be eligible for admission to any University System institution which, for the two most recent academic years, did not admit all academically qualified applicants (except for cases in which applicants were rejected for non-academic reasons).” For more information about Board of Regents policies visit the link provided. __http://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section4/C327/__
All students must provide verification of lawful presence upon admission to a public university which is a part of the University System of Georgia.
Many adults, attempting to get into college who also have no legal status, were brought to this country as children and had no say in the matter. Regardless they have no choice in attending college unless they can afford to attend a private institution.
For many children who still rely on their families to support them this could be disparaging as there may be no jobs held within the home.
Funds which could have been allocated to education are being used to identify undocumented aliens
Other potential effects
Many migrant workers who helped to sustain our economy are no longer employed because they are unverifiable.
Shortage of labor
Promotes racial profiling
Damages state’s reputation as a place of acceptance of diverse people groups
Public universities no longer receiving funds from undocumented students
For further information regarding possible effects of House Bill 87 check out this __position paper__ written by Tom Baxter (2011) as an affiliate of the Center for American Progress.
*If you would like to read more about teacher positions on the topic here is a link to a __blog post__.
Umana, K. (n.d.). The ultimate guide for college bound undocumented georgia students. Retrieved June 18, 2015, from http://www.cobbk12.org/pebblebrook/Guidance/Georgia College Guide for Undocumented Students.pdf
What is Georgia House Bill 87?
How it affects education
How it affects students/teachers
Other potential effects
- Many migrant workers who helped to sustain our economy are no longer employed because they are unverifiable.
- Shortage of labor
- Promotes racial profiling
- Damages state’s reputation as a place of acceptance of diverse people groups
- Public universities no longer receiving funds from undocumented students
- For further information regarding possible effects of House Bill 87 check out this __position paper__ written by Tom Baxter (2011) as an affiliate of the Center for American Progress.
*If you would like to read more about teacher positions on the topic here is a link to a __blog post__.Sources
4.1 General Policy. (n.d.). Retrieved June 18, 2015, from http://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section4/C327/
Alex, C. (2011, May 9). Teachers and Students in Georgia Speak Out Against HB 87. Retrieved June 18, 2015, from https://tropicsofmeta.wordpress.com/2011/05/09/teachers-and-students-in-georgia-speak-out-against-hb-87/
Baxter, T. (2011, October 1). How georgia's immigration law could hurt the state's (and the nation's) economy. Retrieved June 18, 2015, from https://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/issues/2011/10/pdf/georgia_immigration.pdf
HB 87 2011-2012 Regular Session. (2011). Retrieved June 18, 2015, from http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/display/32190
Umana, K. (n.d.). The ultimate guide for college bound undocumented georgia students. Retrieved June 18, 2015, from http://www.cobbk12.org/pebblebrook/Guidance/Georgia College Guide for Undocumented Students.pdf
Additional Sources
What is the Federal Work Authorization Number? (2015). Retrieved June 18, 2015, from https://www.verifyi9.com/federal-work-authorization-number/