Charlotte Observer Editorial
Lost in the panting and ranting in North Carolina over a recent simple suggestion that community colleges admit illegal immigrants is a stark truth: If this nation had a sensible federal immigration policy that secured borders and provided a path to legal status, states wouldn't have to thrash about in this way.

You can argue the details of immigration policy all you want, but you can't argue with this fact: The nation's immigration system is broken, and Washington has done nothing to fix it.

How broken is it? Our borders are like cheesecloth and we have no workable plan to deal with the fact millions of people would do almost anything to come here for a better life. We also have no practical plan for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants who already live here and are important to our economy.

Why? Federal lawmakers continue to put narrow, ideological views above reasoned compromise. Among them: Sen. Elizabeth Dole , R-N.C., whose seat comes up for election next year.

Sen. Dole worked hard to help kill a decent immigration reform bill in the U.S. Senate in July. It wasn't perfect, but it provided a practical, intelligent way to secure the border -- and pay for it. It also took the sensible step of providing illegal immigrants a conditional path to legal status. Too bad lawmakers such as Sen. Dole were more interested in shouting "amnesty" and opposing any step toward legal status than they were in helping the folks back home.

Here's what we mean: State and local governments pay the price for that failure of leadership. The issue of whether the doors to college ought to be open to undocumented students is one small example. There are hundreds of others communities such as Charlotte-Mecklenburg and states such as North Carolina must grapple with. And nothing will change until federal policies change.

Here's what needs to happen: The United States needs to secure its borders using a mix of technology and portable and permanent structures. It needs a way for people who are here illegally to pay fines, complete requirements and become legal. It needs a realistic system for workers who want to come here legally. And, it needs to designate funding to enforce these measures.

Next year, let's make one measure of who we elect whether they put progress above ideology.