Southern Poverty Law Center Alleges North Carolina Schools are Discriminating Against Immigrants

Two North Carolina public school districts are being targeted by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) for allegedly denying access to two immigrant students. On Tuesday the SPLC and other civil rights groups filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), asking for an investigation into the school districts.

The complaint was filed on Feb. 13. In the complaint, the SPLC claims that simply addressing the problem with the two districts would not be sufficient.

"Due to the widespread nature of this problem in North Carolina, resolving only the discriminatory actions of the two Respondent Districts is not a complete solution," the complaint reads.

"For this reason, in addition to any remedies achieved through DOJ involvement, Complainants seek action from the Department of Public Instruction ("DPI") to put an end to this shameful practice statewide. No child present in North Carolina should be turned away from public school."

Using only initials for identification, the SPLC detailed attempts by two Latin American immigrants to enroll in school, only to be turned down for reasons the SPLC believes are dubious.

"C.V. had hoped to enroll in high school in Buncombe County, N.C. - part of her plan to get a high school diploma and attend cosmetology school," the SPLC said in a statement. The SPLC goes on to say that C.V. was twice denied the opportunity to enroll because she was "too old." C.V. is 17, and North Carolina state law requires all students under 21 be allowed into school.

The SPLC also cited a second case with similar complaints in another district, one "F.C., a native of Guatemala who arrived in the United States without his parents but now lives with them in Marshville, N.C. His mother is recognized as his sponsor."

F.C. is 17-years-old. According to the SPLC, when his mother tried to enroll him in Forest Hills High School in Marshville he was told he was too old and referred him to a GED program at a community college, where he was then told he was too young for the program.

When he again tried to enroll in high school, he was told he had to first complete an English as a Second Language exam because of his poor English. He was unable to complete the exam, but the person administering the test assisted him in submitting an application which finally got him into school.

The SPLC was joined in the complaint by Legal Services of Southern Piedmont, North Carolina Justice Center and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice.