Immigrants without legal status sue for access to Georgia universities

Three Georgians who have received a special reprieve from deportation are suing the University System of Georgia over its policy of barring them from attending five of the state’s top universities.

Filed Friday, their federal lawsuit says Georgia’s policy violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and is preempted by federal law. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and a local law firm — Horsley Begnaud — filed the case.

“The defendants’ policy excludes some of Georgia’s best and brightest students from its top schools,” Burth López, a MALDEF staff attorney, said in a prepared statement. “Not only is the policy contrary to the very fairness embedded in our constitutional system, but it ultimately hurts Georgia by diminishing the overall quality of its classrooms.”

A spokesman for the university system declined to comment.

Read more: http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/immigrants-without-legal-status-sue-for-access-to-/nsQpS/