Community colleges to stop admitting illegal immigrants to degree programs

 RALEIGH -- North Carolina's community college system said Tuesday it will no longer admit illegal immigrants into degree programs, following the advice of the state Attorney General's Office.

 Last year, the system said it would enroll illegal immigrants who are 18 years old and high school graduates at all of its 58 campuses. While the change was supported by Gov. Mike Easley, it provoked heavy criticism - especially from the leading candidates running to replace the outgoing governor.

 The system later asked North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper for guidance on whether the admissions policy was legal under federal law.

 Last week, Cooper's office suggested the system drop the admissions policy, although federal immigration officials have said no school is required to check immigration status.

 "We asked the Attorney General's Office for clarification of our present policy and will abide by their advice," system President R. Scott Ralls said in a statement. "We will continue to be a primary source of economic advancement for the state by providing world-class education and work-force training to every student eligible to enroll."

 The change adopted last year altered a 2004 community college policy that left the admissions decision to individual campuses.

Ralls was president of Craven Community College at the time. He said the school would support the state system's policy by enrolling illegal immigrants who met the age and education requirements.

Tommy Williams, the school's interim president, could not be reached Tuesday. Sandy Wall, the school's spokesman, said Craven Community College will continue to admit undocumented aliens for basic skills programs, such as classes for English as a second language.

"The advice of the attorney general is that the admission of illegal immigrants runs counter to federal law," Wall said. "Some of this is still being explored. But for the time being, we're not going to admit any illegal aliens for curriculum purposes. Those are the marching orders from Raleigh, and that's what we're going to follow."

The system's new policy will not affect high school students taking any community college classes, or adults in noncollege-level courses. Ralls also said the 112 illegal immigrants who enrolled in degree classes during the 2006-2007 academic year will be allowed to continue their studies. Wall said Craven will allow students who enrolled between November 2007 and May 2008 to finish their degrees.

 In offering his advice to the community college, Cooper called on federal officials to provide clarity on what is legal.

 "We have accepted the attorney general's offer to seek federal clarification of this issue, and they are pursuing that information," Ralls said. "Until we receive further clarification, we will no longer admit individuals classified as illegal or undocumented immigrants into curriculum degree programs."

 But federal immigration officials said last week there is no law prohibiting the state from educating illegal immigrants at public colleges and universities.

 "The Department of Homeland Security does not require any school to determine a student's status," U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement.

 It was not clear what further information Cooper's office is seeking from federal authorities.