RALEIGH, N.C. - Gov. Mike Easley says the state's community colleges should stick to a policy of admitting all eligible illegal immigrants.

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Easley made the suggestion Thursday, a day after Attorney General Roy Cooper's office said the lenient admissions policy should be dropped.

A letter from Cooper's general counsel said the community college system should follow federal law more closely and admit immigrants in narrow circumstances.

Easley said Thursday that federal law does not clearly outline when illegal immigrants can attend community college. He asked Cooper to seek clarification from Washington.

“The legislature specifically provided the Community College board the authority to establish admission criteria," Easley said in a statement. "In the absence of federal action to the contrary, the Community College board should continue its current policy, which is consistent with other states.”

Cooper's office said this week it could send a letter to the Department of Homeland Security on the system's behalf. North Carolina's community college system is the third largest in the country. About 800,000 students attend the system's 58 schools.

Stephen Scott, president of Wake Tech Community College, said the state actually profits from illegal immigrants enrolling in school because they pay out-of-state tuition. He said there are very few illegal immigrants enrolled in the system.

"Wake Tech is going to follow whatever the correct policy is either set by the Attorney General's office or the department of community colleges," he said. "Our is belief is we ought to serve all the students that want to learn."