I write to set the record straight regarding recent Marietta Daily Journal articles about KSU's role in the Jessica Colotl matter.
Although Ms. Colotl was arrested on March 30, KSU's administration did not become aware of her arrest until April 26. On that date, we were informed that she was arrested for obstructing traffic and driving without a license; that she had an expired Mexican passport; and that she was in the custody of the Immigration Control and Enforcement Agency.
With that being the extent of our knowledge, I asked KSU Attorney Flora Devine to determine Ms. Colotl's status. Ms. Devine called the Mexican consulate and a former Mexican consul general to make them aware of Ms. Colotl's situation. She also contacted Ms. Colotl's lawyer. Meanwhile, KSU's chief student affairs officer talked with the president of Ms. Colotl's sorority to inquire what assistance KSU could provide.
On April 28, I talked with Ms. Colotl's lawyer, who asked if I would submit a letter in the form of an affidavit for Ms. Colotl, whose case was to be heard on April 30 by the Atlanta Immigration Court. I did so, with the letter being based on the facts as we understood them on April 28. The letter in part reads: "I write to request that within the letter of the law (emphasis added), Jessica be provided every opportunity to stay at, or return to, Kennesaw State University."
That was, and is, the extent of KSU's involvement in Ms. Colotl's case.
On April 30, the Immigration Court ruled that Ms. Colotl had to leave the United States within 20 days. The case was closed.
On May 5, ICE informed Ms. Colotl that she could stay in the country until May 5, 2011, to complete her studies. No one at KSU was involved in, or lobbied for, that decision.
Let me now turn to the Around Town column on Tuesday headlined "No Mas!" which implies that I avoided talking with the MDJ. I did not learn about the interview request until 2:30 p.m. Monday, at which time I was off campus attending to several pressing university matters. I simply did not have time to talk that day and instructed KSU's spokeswoman to re-issue the statement KSU issued last Friday as a final statement. I have always been, and remain, willing to talk with the MDJ, even though I am not always able to do so immediately.
Finally, while KSU did assist Ms. Colotl as related above, no effort to "spring her from an Alabama immigration jail and let her pay in-state tuition" ever occurred. Now that Ms. Colotl has been identified as undocumented, she will pay out-of-state tuition, as do all other known undocumented students.
Please be assured that KSU and I comply fully with the letter and intent of U.S. and Georgia law, and with Board of Regents policies. At the same time, we are pleased that ICE, with no KSU involvement, allowed Ms. Colotl to pursue the completion of her degree before she returns to Mexico.
I hope that this clarifies what actually did, and did not, occur.
Dan Papp
President
Kennesaw State University
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That's CRAZY...you cannot DARE TO SAY that you had no 'influence' in their decision for the taxpayers to continue to fund this illegal travesty.
YOU wrote on letterhead to PLEASE LET HER STAY...and, how would THEY know that you had not VERIFIED HER STATUS when it was the job of YOUR employees at KSU??????
This is DISGUSTING. Always trying to pass the buck.
Sadly the taxpayers will NEVER recoup the $ we have spent to feed and educate this woman, not to mention the rest of her family's lifestyle over MANY years...
And, you just ADD TO that INSULT.
Wouldn't matter WHAT country she's 'from'...she's known her WHOLE LIFE that she was CHEATING. And, you stood behind her and upheld her CHEATING in the name of the school you work at and WITH MY (and other's) TAX DOLLARS!!!!!!
I'm sorry you had a meth lab next door. That must have been an awful experience. I wonder how you would feel if it had been a group of white American citizens? Would you campaign as strongly and hatefully against white Americans?
Would you have joined the CCC or the KKK if it had been black Americans? Or a neo-Nazi group if it had been a group of Jewish heritage?
I wonder.
Would you go to bat for a student who was an American citizen, stopped on campus for a traffic violation and taken to jail because their driver's license had expired? Probably not. But hey, your behavior is just following in the footsteps of Betty, who wants KSU to be such an "international" university. It's so much easier to cut the ribbon to a new soccer stadium isn't it?
Signed,
Previous KSU Student
Americans have lost ALOT, while accomodating ungrateful illegals!
Billy & Kathy Inman had their only son (stripped away) by an illegal drunk driver!!
So, think it through, proud American, before you make stupid meaningless statements!!
One other point, I believe there is a provision in the law on "selective prosecution". Since our government and courts have apparently chosen not to enforce immigration laws, it would seem to me this would be a more than adequate defense on any criminal charge that anyone faces. Either enforce all of the laws against everyone - or enforce none of the laws on everyone. This should include paying taxes to the IRS, DUI's, no insurance, terrorist threats - any criminal charge. f we are going to be a society with no laws, let's make it a society of no laws not just some laws that apply to some people. Regardless of what Papp knew when, he should have stayed out of it - I can't imagine him going to this extent for any other student in trouble - andif not, why not. Come on all of you people out for the heads of the students at Walker, where is your outrage over this - at least Walker students weren't costing you any money as these illegals are!!!