Dr. Jim Purcell

Director Arkansas Dept. of Higher Education

114 E. Capitol

Little Rock, AR 72201

Dr. Purcell,                                                                                     December 2, 2010

Your non-response to my specific questions regarding the illegal Mexican invasion into the centers of higher education leaves me absolutely aghast. (see Purcell response below) A fellow with a PhD in education and the Director of all the colleges and universities in the state of Arkansas should be capable of addressing pointed questions in an intelligent manner, or perhaps you do not wish to be bothered. 

Let me demonstrate.  First of all, I have accused Dr. David Gearhart of lobbying for illegal Mexican aliens based on the following: 

1.      The employment of Rafael Arciga, an illegal entrant into the U.S. and through some sleight of hand was made a legal resident, graduated from the U of A, hired by the U of A, and is now lobbying for the DREAM Act in D.C.   Who paid and who is paying?  Who is responsible for the transition from illegal to legal?

2.      Gearhart, in a taxpayer owned airplane, travelled to Little Rock, Ark during the 09 legislative sessions and lobbied for in-state tuition for illegals, Senator Joyce Elliott’s Bill.

Regarding your email of Dec.1, 2010

1.      You stated you would look at the codes I suggested. Further you said “we wish to follow the rule of law”….question, why do you not know the laws governing illegal immigration? 

2.      Regarding the 1,768 students, you maintain they are not all illegal residents.  This in itself is an admission that illegals permeate the Arkansas Higher Learning system.  In this same vein, you continue by saying “student (sic) can choose not to use their social security number as their student identification”.  What has this to do with the invalid social security count in the education system?

3.      You state that you follow up with the institutions and ASK to verify their status.  You ask?  Is that all?

You did not address any of the salient questions I posed.  You danced around the questions in typical political/bureaucratic doublespeak, which frankly was not very good.

This sordid behavior by you, Gov. Beebe, A.G. McDaniel, and the whole education community top down is an attack on middleclass Arkansans’ finances and educational opportunities.

I’m asking you again, why are these 1,768 illegal aliens nesting in our university system, who is paying for their tuition and related costs, and as you stated these 1,768 are not all illegal residents…why then are they listed in your own data as having invalid social security numbers and what, if anything, do you, Beebe, McDaniel, Gearhart and the state legislature plan to do about rectifying  this Arkansas travesty?

Corruption abounds in Arkansas state government. The question becomes, what can we citizens do to rid ourselves of the stench that hangs over state government?

Joe McCutchen

arkansasfreedom.net  

(Purcell response…..December 1, 2010)

I will take a look at the codes you suggested. We do wish to follow the rule of law.

Please note the 1,768 are not all illegal residents. Student can choose to not use their social security number as their student identification. Many law abiding citizens prefer to have their institution generate a student identification number rather than use the SSN.

That is why we follow up with the institutions and ask them to verify their status. If they determine a student is illegal, the school has the responsibility to be sure they are not receiving state benefits. Currently we consider state benefits as any state financial aid, institutional tuition waivers, or out-of state tuition waivers.
-Jim