The North Carolina community college system announced on Tuesday that it will no longer enroll undocumented students.

This decision was supported by the state attorney general's office although, six month ago, the system decided to allow illegal immigrants with high school diplomas to enroll and work toward associate’s degrees as long as they paid the out-of-state tuition rate.

In November, Martin Lancaster, who was president at that time, ordered all 58 two-year schools to admit undocumented students.

The rule is contrary to common higher-education practices nationwide.

According to Charlotte Observer, last week, a member of Cooper’s staff cited a federal law that bans illegal immigrants from getting state benefits, including a higher education.

Norma Kent, a vice president of the American Association of Community Colleges said that the North Carolina debate is different than those from other states because it raises the question whether undocumented students can attend public colleges at all.

According to a local source Randolph Community College President Bob Shackleford said that this measure was not going to have a major impact because the tuition fees imposed were so high that few immigrants could afford them.

“It's going to have a very minimal effect on any of us because the way the policy was before was we had to charge out-of-state tuition rates. There are very, very few undocumented immigrants who could afford that,” said Shackleford.

Only about 100 of the nearly 300,000 degree-seeking community college students are illegal immigrants in North Carolina. They pay full, out-of-state tuition rates.

The law allows the students enrolled in degree courses during the 2006-2007 school year to continue their studies.