Regents OK restrictions for illegal immigrants

ATLANTA - The state Board of Regents has voted to approve new policies regarding illegal immigrant applicants to Georgia colleges and universities.

The regents took up the issue at their meeting Wednesday.

The new policy prohibits the schools from accepting illegal immigrant applicants if the school has rejected any academically qualified students in the two most recent academic years. It also requires each school to verify the legal presence in the U.S. of each person applying for resident tuition status.

The board was forced to address the issue of illegal immigrant students in Georgia after a high-profile case involving a Kennesaw State University student who was nearly deported following an arrest in the spring.