The University of Georgia’s new immigration policy is being cited as the possible reason Bradwell football player Chester Brown de-committed from the university Monday, according to news reports from the Atlantic Journal Constitution and Onlineathens.com.
The Georgia Board of Regents adopted a policy in October 2010 that states:
“A person who is not lawfully present in the United States shall not be eligible for admission to any University System institution which, for the two most recent academic years, did not admit all academically qualified applicants (except for cases in which applicants were rejected for non-academic reasons).”
Brown, born Keka Alofa Brown, is the son of Samoan immigrants. His father, Siliga, and his mother, Ifo, moved to Long Beach, Calif., in the mid-1990s, but later moved to Hinesville to escape what Brown’s  father described as an external influence of crime and gang activity in the Long Beach area.
BI principal Scott Carrier could not disclose details, citing student confidentiality, but did tell the AJC it was an immigration-related issue.
He declined to comment further, though both Carrier and Tigers football coach Jim Walsh Jr. have said they are doing what they can to help Brown play at the next level.
Brown reportedly has received offers from Tulane, Syracuse and Central Florida.