Latest news with #MariaCervania
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House votes to expand NC sheriffs' required cooperation with ICE, aiming to close ‘loopholes'
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer coordinates with other officials during an enforcement operation in San Antonio, Texas, on Feb. 5, 2025. (Photo by ICE) Lawmakers in the North Carolina House voted Tuesday to expand requirements for county sheriffs to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a move that Republicans say closes 'loopholes' in an immigration law passed last year. The 2024 law required sheriffs to comply with ICE 'detainers' — or requests to notify the agency before an undocumented immigrant is released from law enforcement's custody, regardless of whether they are convicted. House Bill 318 expands on that requirement, forcing sheriffs to contact ICE in cases where a person is charged with any felony, as well as high-level misdemeanors. And it requires the sheriffs to notify the agency when a detainer is about to expire. The bill intends to root out 'loopholes' that Republicans say several sheriffs have used to avoid complying with ICE — most prominently in Mecklenburg County, where the city of Charlotte is located. 'We're closing loopholes because five or so sheriffs have refused to cooperate,' said Rep. Brian Echevarria (R-Cabarrus). Democratic opponents to the bill called it a violation of due process. 'You cannot detain your way to public safety,' said Rep. Maria Cervania (D-Wake), who recounted Tuesday her experience of being stopped on the road by law enforcement and threatened with ICE detention, despite being born in the U.S. The bill passed the House, 70-45. Rep. Carla Cunningham (D-Mecklenburg), who cited an uptick in overdose deaths in the county, joined Republicans in supporting the measure. She said lawmakers had to take every step to increase public safety.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Maria Cervania on western NC recovery, retaining top talent, and bills she's working to advance
State Rep. Maria Cervania (Photo: NCGA) It's been more than six months now since Hurricane Helene devastated much of western North Carolina, and while there's been a great deal of heroic recovery and rebuilding effort at all levels of government since then, recent actions in Washington are raising red flags in many corners. At the North Carolina General Assembly, for example, lawmakers like Wake County state Rep. Maria Cervania have expressed deep concern that big Trump administration budget and staffing cuts to federal agencies, along with big price hikes caused by new Trump tariffs will wreak further havoc in the region. And recently NC Newsline caught up with Cervania from her Legislative Building office to discuss her concerns for western North Carolina, as well as her take on some other front burner issues – including the shape of our state employee workforce, the right's crusade against diversity, and her efforts to reduce nicotine use by kids. Click here to listen to the full interview with state Rep. Maria Cervania.
