Push on immigration issue shows its value to Republicans

RALEIGH (AP) — Attorney General Roy Cooper’s office says it will review a new policy requiring community colleges to admit illegal immigrants.

Cooper’s office says the review comes after the Community College System asked for advice on the policy yesterday.

A Republican gubernatorial candidate pressed state officials yesterday to defend the new policy. Johnston County Senator Fred Smith asked Cooper’s office yesterday if it thought the new policy is legal.

The previous policy had given the 58 campuses discretion whether to accept undocumented applicants. That policy was changed last month by an attorney for the Community College System.

Smith and the other four leading major-party gubernatorial candidates have all come out against the policy.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)