Republicans are getting into trouble with DREAMers all over the country this summer. On Monday, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) lashed out at them after they asked about his opposition to DACA, and allowed them to walk out to jeering and booing. And yesterday, Gov. Nathan Deal (R-GA) when he appeared to racially profile Hispanic students who questioned him during a speech to College Republicans.
The Athens Banner-Herald covered what happened when four students from the Undocumented Student Alliance stood up to question Deal about a Board of Regents policy that bans undocumented immigrants from attending the University of Georgia:
“Gov. Deal, you spoke about protecting the HOPE Scholarship and you’re a supporter of education, but why do you deprive undocumented immigrants who’ve lived here their entire lives from the right to come here and attend school with all of us?” asked Carver Goodhue, who stood in the audience of more than 100 along with supporters Kevin Ruiz, Preethi Raja and Lizbeth Miranda.
Deal argued there is no effective way, at least not at the state level, to help the would-be students who want to attend classes at UGA and other state universities but are barred from doing so by a four-year-old Board of Regents policy. And anyway, he said, Georgians wouldn’t support revoking the measure.
The report continues from Blake Aued at Flagpole:
During his response, Deal said “I presume that you are” undocumented.
“I don’t know why you thought I was undocumented. Is it because I look Hispanic?” one of the students, Lizbeth Miranda told him, prompting boos from the audience at a UGA College Republicans meeting.
“I apologize if I offended you,” Deal said.
Deal spokesman Brian Robinson said he spoke to the governor late Tuesday to try to pin down what happened. Watch the video below:
