Latest news with #HouseBill318
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Josh Stein vetoes controversial immigration bills amid public outcry in North Carolina
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina Governor Josh Stein vetoed two controversial immigration bills. Both Senate Bill 153 and House Bill 318 have left some North Carolinians to organize and protest, seeking Governor Josh Stein to use his power to veto. 'People across the state have been calling for this veto organizing extensively over the past ten days,' said Sammy Salkin with the ACLU North Carolina. Senate Bill 153 would have forced state agencies to 'cooperate to the fullest extent of the law' with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. On his veto of SB153 the Governor said, 'Senate Bill 153 would also make us less safe, so I am vetoing this legislation. At a time when our law enforcement is already stretched thin, this bill takes state law enforcement officers away from their existing state duties and forces them to act as federal immigration agents. Furthermore, under current law, people without lawful immigration status already are prevented from receiving Medicaid, SNAP, Section 8, and other benefits.' House Bill 318 would have compelled law enforcement agencies to honor detainer requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. On his veto of HB318 he said, 'I am vetoing House Bill 318 because it is unconstitutional. I support the bill's efforts to require sheriffs to contact federal immigration authorities about people in their custody charged with sexual battery, armed robbery, arson, assault on public officials and court personnel, and other dangerous crimes. People who commit these crimes should be held accountable, whether or not they are here without legal authorization, and those charged with serious offenses ought to receive increased scrutiny from federal immigration officials. 'My oath of office requires that I uphold the Constitution of the United States. Therefore, I cannot sign this bill because it would require sheriffs to unconstitutionally detain people for up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released. The Fourth Circuit is clear that local law enforcement officers cannot keep people in custody solely based on a suspected immigration violation. But let me be clear: anyone who commits a serious crime in North Carolina must be prosecuted and held accountable regardless of their immigration status.' Sammy Salkin with the ACLU of North Carolina was at the Executive Residence for a Pride event Friday evening and expressed her gratitude to him in person. 'He appreciated that we had made our voices heard and he was happy to be responsive of what his constituents had asked of him,' she said. North Carolina State Representative Marcia Morey for District 30 is also grateful for the governor's action. 'It was a sigh of relief; we weren't quite sure, but I think the governor thought long and hard about these bills,' said Morey. The North Carolina GOP says, 'It's disappointing, but not surprising that Gov. Stein vetoed legislation to complement the efforts of President Trump to secure the Southern border.' It will take a 3/5 vote in each chamber to override the governor's veto. 'In the house, we have a one-vote advantage: if everyone sticks together and 3/5 stick together and are present, you have to be present at the time of the vote,' said Morey. As for the Senate, they have to have 30 votes to override the veto, and Morey says if they vote along party lines, they could override the governor's veto. But advocates say they're hopeful lawmakers will uphold the governor's veto. 'We are hopeful that those folks will continue to vote against these harmful bills and uphold them the governor's veto,' said Salkin. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Controversial bills await action from Governor Stein
RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A trio of controversial bills are awaiting action from Governor Josh Stein after they were passed out of the General Assembly in Raleigh this week. The question many are asking is if they could be the first to be vetoed by Stein. Senate Bill 153 and House Bill 318 both look to increase cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials. Senate Bill 50 allows for those 18 and older to carry a concealed handgun without a permit. With only five months on the job and a lot of his work focused on Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, Stein has enjoyed a mostly amicable relationship with the GOP-controlled legislature. That could change if Stein were to reject any of the three pieces of legislation. 'Certainly the Republicans will use that as messaging for their base…parties are always looking for opportunities to dent the other side,' said Eric Heberlig, a political science professor at UNC Charlotte. Heberlig told Queen City News that Stein will have to weigh whether he has enough votes for his vetoes to stand, as he will need every single democrat on his side. A three-fifths vote is required in both chambers to override. Democrats hold 49 seats in the House, the exact number needed to reject such a vote. 'Second thing he has to think about is his ongoing relationship with Republican leadership. Is it worth taking them on at this point and perhaps poisoning the well for future negotiations,' said Heberlig. For now, Stein nor his staff are revealing how he will act. 'The Governor will continue to review the bills. He has made clear that if someone commits a crime and they are here illegally; they should be deported,' a spokesperson told Chief Political Correspondent Andy Weber. Stein has until the end of next week to sign or veto all three of the bills. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
2 bills head to NC governor's desk to expand ICE operations
Two bills are hitting the North Carolina Governor's desk that would help ICE expand its deportation efforts in the state. They divided the legislature directly by party lines, and it's a perfect example of the issue that's currently dividing much of the country. As protestors in Los Angeles continue their demonstrations, legislators in North Carolina are cracking down on undocumented immigrants. House Bill 318 would expand the law that passed in November and would require sheriffs to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement within two hours after an undocumented immigrant is scheduled to be released, and require they be held for 48 hours before doing so. It also expands the types of crimes that trigger the requirement to now include any felony, Class A1 misdemeanors against a child in the womb or involving sexual assault, and DWI offenses. Senate Bill 153 requires more state agencies to work with ICE, and it would train them to check whether people are here illegally. That would include the departments of public safety, corrections, highway patrol, and the State Bureau of Investigation. It also directs agencies to stop providing state benefits to noncitizens, including unemployment compensation. It also allows victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants to sue cities and counties if they create sanctuary policies, and it forbids the UNC school system from keeping information from federal immigration officials. Gilberto Pagan is the director of Hispanos del Sur, a conservative Hispanic organization, and he's in favor of the bills. 'I think generally speaking, it's about safety, it's about everybody's safety across the whole state, and that includes immigrant communities and everybody who lives here,' Pagan said. Earlier this week, pro-immigrant rights groups spoke out against recent immigration raids. Both bills passed the legislature on Tuesday. Gov. Josh Stein wouldn't answer whether or not he will sign them into law. His office told Channel 9, 'He has made clear that if someone commits a crime and they are here illegally, they should be deported.' Stein has 10 days to veto the bills or they'll become law. In the meantime, organizers plan to protest in First Ward Park this Saturday at 11 a.m. It's the same day that President Donald Trump has called for a parade in Washington D.C. to celebrate the Army's 250th birthday. June 14 is also Trump's birthday. (VIDEO: Supporters in Charlotte call for release of SEIU leader after ICE protests)
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NC Republicans send immigration crackdown bills to Gov. Josh Stein's desk
As national protests break out against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's sweeping deportation raids, North Carolina lawmakers on Tuesday sent two bills to the governor's desk that target unauthorized immigrants and mandate further state cooperation with ICE. The wide-ranging bills would deputize some state law enforcement agencies to carry out immigration actions, ban immigrants from receiving state benefits if they are in the country illegally, and require sheriffs and prisons to notify ICE about suspected immigration violations in more circumstances. Both passed the Senate 26-17 with Democrats united in opposing the proposals. 'This bill really is not about safety, it's about intimidation,' Sen. Natalie Murdock, a Durham Democrat, said. 'It's about fear mongering, and it's about targeting vulnerable people who come to North Carolina seeking a better life.' Republicans, however, have championed the measures, saying the state needs to do more to aid the federal government's immigration enforcement actions. 'I think the people of North Carolina and the people of this nation want our immigration laws enforced,' Senate leader Phil Berger told reporters after the vote. 'I think what we have moved forward with are things that will enhance the ability of the federal authorities to enforce our nation's immigration laws.' Democratic Gov. Josh Stein has not said whether he will veto the proposals, both of which are likely to head to his desk soon. 'The governor will continue to review the bill,' a spokesperson for his office said. 'He has made clear that if someone commits a crime and they are here illegally, they should be deported.' If Stein does veto the bills, Republicans would have to gain the support of at least one Democrat in the House to override his rejection. Democratic Rep. Carla Cunningham voted in favor of one of the measures, House Bill 318, on Tuesday — making her the only member of her party do so. Ahead of Tuesday's vote, protesters demonstrated against the bills outside the legislature, saying they contributed to a campaign of fear against immigrants stoked by the Trump administration. 'I'm seeing our immigrant communities being terrorized and it's unnecessary,' Karen Ziegler, a protester, said ahead of the vote. 'These are people that have been living around us, working, performing critical functions, paying taxes. This is not OK, what's happening now. People being snatched off the streets, people being flown and transported to concentration camps in this country and in other countries. It's so wrong and I don't understand why the General Assembly wants to support this slide into fascism.' Tuesday's votes come as the Trump administration ramps up its efforts to respond to anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, sending in the National Guard and Marines in a dramatic escalation of tensions. Both pieces of legislation significantly expand the state's responsibilities to cooperate with ICE. Senate Bill 153 would require four state law enforcement agencies to participate in the federal 287(g) program, which allows state officers to carry out immigration actions usually done by federal agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Officers from the state departments of Public Safety and Adult Correction, the State Highway Patrol and the State Bureau of Investigation — executive agencies which are overseen by Democratic Gov. Josh Stein — would all be required to carry out ICE functions. The other bill, HB 318, would require sheriffs to notify ICE before releasing anyone in their custody with a detainer, or detention request, from the agency. A law passed last year requires the affected person to be kept in confinement an additional 48 hours to give ICE time to potentially retrieve them, but the new bill aims to ensure immigration officials are notified. Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch attempted to amend the bill with what she called a 'victims' rights' provision which would ensure that victims of violent crimes could request that the person charged in their case be tried in court before ICE carries out any immigration actions. Without her amendment, Batch said the bill would be 'amnesty for criminals.' 'It's going to allow someone to come into North Carolina, to seriously injure, rape, murder or harm someone, and does not allow the victim or the victim's family to come before a court to ask for that individual to be tried (and) held accountable to our rules,' she said. Republicans set aside her proposal without debating it. HB 318 would also require sheriffs to attempt to determine the immigration status of anyone charged with a felony or drunk driving. Previous legislation narrowed this requirement to only people charged with high-level violent crimes. Cooperation with ICE isn't the only factor in the legislation passed Tuesday. SB 153 would also direct state agencies to ensure unauthorized immigrants do not receive a variety of state-funded benefits, such as housing assistance or unemployment. Another portion of the bill would allow local governments that approve what it describes as sanctuary policies for immigrants to be sued if a person in the country without legal authorization commits a crime in their jurisdiction.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NC Senate panel approves bill expanding ICE detention requirements for sheriffs
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service Processing Center in El Centro, Calif. (Stock photo by) The North Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee voted in favor of a bill Wednesday that would expand state requirements for sheriffs to detain undocumented immigrants for retrieval by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The bill, known as House Bill 318 or 'the Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act,' passed the North Carolina House in April and is now set for a vote by the Senate Rules Committee Thursday morning. It represents a continuation of the detention requirements passed in November under House Bill 10. Rep. Carson Smith (R-Pender), a former sheriff, described the bill as an attempt to 'clarify and make a few changes' to the law after seeing it in effect. HB 318 would expand the requirement for verifying immigration status from a specific set of felonies to all felonies as well as any impaired driving offenses. It also modifies the requirements for releasing individuals in custody under ICE detention orders. Under the proposed law, a judge or magistrate would inquire into the immigration status of any defendant charged with a felony or impaired driving offense at their pretrial release hearing. If their status cannot be determined, they would be held for an additional two hours after an inquiry to ICE on whether they are subject to any detention orders. 'If an ICE detainer and warrant is received, they're taken to the judicial official, probably the magistrate, to determine that they are the person that is subject to that detainer and that administrative warrant,' Smith said. 'If they are, they will be held up to 48 hours after whatever point they would otherwise be released for ICE to come pick them up.' Democrats and members of the public spoke out against the bill, arguing that it damages rather than furthers public safety. Sen. Lisa Grafstein (D-Wake) said she believes the requirements violate the U.S. Constitution, given that they would require sheriffs to carry out the ICE hold even when the individual in question has been exonerated or had their charges dismissed. 'We're talking about keeping people where the state has no constitutional interest in holding them,' Grafstein said. Under the terms of the existing law, sheriffs must only hold individuals in custody for 48 hours after the ICE detention order is received. The new proposal would require a 48-hour hold beginning when they would otherwise be released from custody. Sen. Sydney Batch (D-Wake) said the proposal also violates the rights of crime victims, preventing them from getting justice if the offender is subject to deportation. 'As a victim myself, I wanted my day in court to testify against my offender, which I had the ability to do,' Batch said. 'This new change would mean that if he were here and there was an ICE detainer, he would then be deported prior to the time of which I would have my day in court.' Mary Ross, an activist with Democracy Out Loud who spoke during the public comment period, said deporting someone based only on allegations of a crime is 'a really cruel way to treat people.' 'They're people who are our neighbors, and most of whom are working hard, doing great work with us,' Ross said. 'I just object to, essentially, judge and jury — the police officer arrests somebody and, boom, they're a convicted criminal and a prisoner and they're gone.' The bill passed the Judiciary Committee hours before another bill on immigration, Senate Bill 153, passed the House. That measure, the 'North Carolina Border Protection Act,' now heads to Gov. Josh Stein's desk for his consideration. In a press release Wednesday, House Republicans announced an ad campaign targeting four Democratic lawmakers who voted against one or both bills.
