Showdown in Illinois: School District Funds Cut for Refusing Immigrant Admission

"In a drastic and unprecedented move, Illinois education officials on Thursday voted to cut off state funds to the Elmwood Park school district for refusing to admit an immigrant teen to its high school . . . 'Frankly, I'm offended that we are dealing with this,' said board chairman Jesse Ruiz, who mentioned that his own father had been an [illegal alien] from Mexico before becoming a citizen," the Chicago Tribune writes. "The district stood firm at the state board meeting Thursday in Springfield, arguing that the student who wanted to enroll in November was here on a tourist visa, and therefore had no right to attend school. A U.S. Supreme Court case and state law guarantees a free public education to undocumented students -- those who cannot prove they are in the country legally. But the school district argued that the student was neither an undocumented immigrant nor a legal resident. Instead, the district said the Ecuadorean teen -- identified only as Sharon M. -- was here on a valid tourist visa, which implied that she was here temporarily and would soon return to her home country. District officials have said they believe they are not obliged to educate those who are not residents and will continue to turn away students on tourist visas."

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