Ga. Senate expected to take up immigration bill

ATLANTA (AP) The Georgia Senate is expected to take up legislation Monday that would ban illegal immigrant students from state colleges and universities.

Senate Bill 458 is on the calendar for Monday's floor session. It must pass out of the Senate by Crossover Day on Wednesday or the legislation dies. The bill would bar illegal immigrants from all state colleges, universities and technical schools and also makes tweaks to other state laws having to do with illegal immigration.

Supporters of the bill say it's necessary to preserve state-funded education for citizens and legal residents. Opponents say the bill unfairly denies motivated students the opportunity to further their education.

Already a university system policy bars illegal immigrants from any state school that has rejected academically qualified students in the prior two years.

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