Anti-illegal immigration activist D.A. King filed a complaint on May 19 with the GBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, then asked Warren to assist in the matter.
In a letter dated June 4, Warren referred to King's complaint, stating that the Board of Regents is in violation of state and federal laws, which prohibit state universities from admitting illegal immigrants.
"O.C.G.A. 50-3601(c)(7) requires compliance with 8 U.S.C. 1621 which provides that aliens not legally in the United States are ineligible for certain State or local benefits, including postsecondary education," Warren writes in his letter to GBI Director Vernon Keenan.
King said he contacted Warren on May 27, after he heard no response from GBI or ICE and read comments from a GBI spokesman in the Journal. In the May 26 article, the spokesman said GBI is not legally allowed to respond to a request from a citizen to open an investigation. Instead, an investigation request must come from an elected official or law enforcement official.
King's actions to contact the GBI were prompted by the case of Kennesaw State University student Jessica Colotl, who was stopped on campus for a traffic violation and arrested March 30 for failure to provide a valid driver's license. It was later discovered that she entered the country illegally at a young age with her parents and had been paying in-state tuition since she enrolled at KSU as a freshman in fall 2006. Nonetheless, she was released from a detention center in Alabama on May 5 and ICE deferred any action against her for one year so she could return to her studies at KSU.
On May 12, the Cobb Sheriff's Office obtained a warrant for Colotl on a felony charge of lying to law-enforcement officials, based on a reportedly false address she provided upon her book-in at the Cobb County Jail in March. Some immigration activists criticized Warren for the second arrest, claiming it was selective law enforcement. On May 14, Colotl turned herself into Cobb authorities and was released on a $2,500 bond.
Warren said he filed the request with GBI because, in his opinion, the law is being violated.
"The way I read the law, I think someone is in violation of the law and I think someone independently should look into it," Warren said.
In light of the criticism Warren has received regarding the Colotl case, he said he felt it was appropriate for an independent agency to do the investigation.
"I definitely didn't ask D.A. King or any other citizens to make that request to me," Warren said. "I felt obligated once it was brought to my attention to forward it to someone to look into it."
Warren has not yet received a response from GBI.
King said he is pleased that the sheriff responded to his request, and hopes that the GBI will investigate the Board of Regents and prove that they are in violation of the law.
"I am as always very grateful for the sheriff's grave attention to duty," King said.
In his letter to the GBI, Warren also copied Gov. Sonny Perdue and Attorney General Thurbert Baker.
King went on to say: "My hope is that the GBI will investigate and confirm what is evident to anybody that can read and is a smarter than a fifth grader ... This is not only a violation of a state law, but a violation of two separate federal laws."
The Board of Regents is holding its monthly meeting today and tomorrow, and has an item on its agenda slated as a residency verification presentation by legal chief James Burns Newsome. In response to King's request to the GBI, Regents spokesman John Millsaps denied that the board is breaking the law.
King, the founder of the Dustin Inman Society, said he plans to go to the Regents' meeting to hand out copies of the federal and state laws.
"I hope they ask themselves the question, how many real immigrants and American citizens have been put out of a classroom seat because of their violation of the law?" he said.
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THANKS SHERIFF WARREN for being a man of true convictions!
I commend you for taking the time to dive into the issue, but why would you assume (given the comments here) that people in general have done the same? There are no doubt flamers on here that can be ignored, but my comments are primarily directed at those who make statements that reveal they haven't examined the issue.
It's not the stance against illegal immigrants that is bigoted, it's the ignorant comments by some that sheds light on their true beliefs/ motives. But perhaps they're just bad apples among those making a more informed, if not valid, point.
Those Who Support the Mexican Invasion -- And Those Who Don't
Arizona Republic -- Phoenix -- June 8
SB 1070 backlash spurs Hispanics to join Democrats
In the seven weeks since Republican Gov. Jan Brewer signed Arizona's tough new immigration law, there has been a sharp increase in the number of Latinos registering to vote as Democrats, party officials say, jumping from about 100 a week before to 500 now.
American Patrol Report Comment
The Arizona Republic says Hispanics will not vote for someone who wants our immigration laws enforced. If you support the Mexican invasion of the U.S., vote for Democrats - if you don't, vote for Republicans. Fair enough.
It also says California became a Democrat state because of Proposition 187 and that it was found unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. Wrong on both counts. Republicans lost California because they lost their nerve and the courts didn't kill 187; Mexican President Zedillo and California Governor Davis killed it.
America is being divided into two groups -- those who support the Mexican invasion of the United States -- and those who don't. It is also being divided into those who tell the truth and those who don't.
And, let's see. The majority of those kids in your South Cobb school are not children of homeowners who pay school taxes! So, those kids aren't the ones whose parents are contributing to any budget deficit reduction. Yes, we all know it's pathetic when these kids are the pawns of lawbreaking parents. But you are just perpetuating the problem. Along with the illegal immigrants comes the culture of babies having babies which is rubbing off on our kids! How many 12 and 13 year old girls are pregnant in Cobb County because the hispanic culture endorses it - WHICH IS ALSO AGAINST THE LAW!
As for this College girl, she broke the law and lied in the process. It's a shame that it's taken this long for anyone to do anything about it. Nonetheless THANK YOU Sheriff Warren!
However, no illegal immigrant has the right to be enrolled in any of our school systems. Period. They are in this country illegally and are utilizing our tax dollars every day. I don't care if they are nice people, they are breaking the law by being here and benefitting from our taxpayer funded services.
Some legal citizens are also comitting crimes. True! So, let's prosecute them as we deport the illegal criminals!
Regarding Education in this country as we all know, all children have the right to a public education (K-12). This is the reason why children without a social security card receive an education (K-12). It's not the child fault that their parents brought them to this country illegally. Educating them, I think, is the humane thing to do.
But now there is a problem, you have a child that has lived here most of their life, has been educated here, has really forgotten their home language, and really at the end of the day are more American then whatever country they were born. Their parents have really done them a huge disservice. Although they might not realize it. Because if and when, they go back to their country, They are an outsider. They are not American and they are not their really from their own country of origin.
We are spinning our wheels here. If we in this country don't have a plan we can deport thousands of undocumented people to only have them return within a few weeks to months. Now the children have not committed a crime. They are brought here, raised here and want to stay here.