NC Democratic lawmakers introduce bills to protect immigrants in sensitive locales
Rep. Renee Price (D-Caswell, Orange) speaks about HB 78 at a Legislative Building press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 25. (Photo: Ahmed Jallow/NC Newsline)
North Carolina Democratic lawmakers have introduced two bills to restrict local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration authorities in schools, hospitals, workplaces and religious places.
House Bill 78, sponsored by Rep. Renee Price (D-Caswell, Orange), would prohibit law enforcement from participating in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in places of worship, schools and hospitals. A companion bill, House Bill 80 from Rep. Deb Butler (D-New Hanover), would extend those restrictions to farms and construction sites.
The proposals come in the wake of a federal policy change that revoked protections for 'sensitive locations' such as schools from immigration raids, a shift that has caused anxiety in immigrant communities.
'Subjecting people with no criminal record to disruptive and traumatic enforcement actions in places of worship, hospitals or schools is unconscionable,' Price said at a press conference Tuesday morning.
Butler and advocates tied the bills to economic stability, noting that an estimated 35% of North Carolina's construction workers are undocumented.
Mario Alfaro, policy manager at Latino rights group El Pueblo, said construction has the state's highest number and percentage of undocumented workers. 'We support HB78 and HB80 because they open the space to discuss an issue that many politicians want to ignore or hide: that North Carolina's economy needs immigrant workers,' said Alfaro.
Legislative sponsors of the bills argue that requiring local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement has created unnecessary fear and disruption in immigrant communities, hurting workers, businesses, and entire communities. 'When law enforcement is used as an extension of ICE, it discourages workers from showing up, reporting unsafe conditions, or even engaging with their own communities,' Butler said.
HB 78 would amend state law to block police and sheriffs' offices from aiding ICE in apprehending individuals or serving removal warrants in protected spaces. HB 80 specifically bars such collaboration at worksites.
Yesenia Cuello of NC FIELD, an advocacy group, said the measures would preserve public safety and labor forces: 'The reality is North Carolina cannot afford to create a climate of fear, especially in places where we work, pray and learn,' Cuello said. 'When communities don't feel safe engaging with law enforcement, public safety suffers and crime rates skyrocket. This bill keeps our workforce strong, our economy stable, and our communities whole.'
The bills are not expected to move forward, as Republicans control both the House and Senate in the legislature.
In contrast, Senate Bill 153 introduced Monday and cosponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger would require state and local agencies to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and prohibit University of North Carolina institutions from becoming 'sanctuary universities.'
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