CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Come next week, North Carolina law enforcement could be required to cooperate with federal immigration operations. Next Tuesday, lawmakers will return to Raleigh for an override vote on HB 10.
Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the legislation back in September, citing numerous concerns. The bill has made headlines for funding a private school voucher program, but it also contains language pertaining to immigration enforcement.
If it became law, sheriffs would be mandated to honor requests from federal law enforcement to hold someone for 48 hours if they are arrested for a serious crime and suspected of being in the country illegally.
“This would not impact folks who are stopped for minor traffic offenses, this is not something those people would be facing deportation over,” said Senator Danny Britt (R – Columbus County).
The proposed mandate has faced strong opposition from advocates, like Kelly Morales from Siembra NC, who said Republican lawmakers “don’t really care about the safety. What we anticipate is what they care about is being able to get votes and being able to create fear in our community, so that some folks can vote for them.”
Even local law enforcement has criticized the bill.
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden previously said the bill undermines his authority and prevents local communities from setting policies that reflect the will of the voters who elected McFadden. In September, the Sheriff said HB 10’s immigration language is a slap in the face and a political move by the legislature.
Lawmakers are set to convene around noon on Tuesday. Republicans need a three-fifths vote in both chambers to successfully override Governor Cooper.
