The tug of war over what to do with illegal immigrants who seek to attend community colleges in North Carolina continues, as the state’s 58-college system announced today that it would no longer admit students who had entered the country illegally.

“We asked the attorney general’s office for clarification of our present policy and will abide by their advice,” said the system’s president, R. Scott Ralls, in a written statement announcing the decision.

Last week federal immigration officials released a statement saying that “it is left for the school to decide whether or not to enroll” undocumented students. The community-college system is now heeding the advice of the state attorney general, Roy A. Cooper III, a Democrat. His office has asked the system to revert to a directive, issued in December 2001, that barred illegal immigrants from working toward a degree.

But the issue may not be dead yet. North Carolina’s governor, Michael F. Easley, also a Democrat, has challenged the attorney general’s opinion, The News & Observer reported today. Last week Governor Easley called on community colleges to continue admitting illegal immigrants who meet eligibility requirements.

The community-college system estimated that just 112 out of more than 297,000 degree-seeking students are illegal immigrants. Those students will be allowed to complete their degree programs at out-of-state tuition rates. —JJ Hermes