Latest news with #SenateBill153
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 Republican lawmakers send immigration crackdown bill to governor
Immigrant rights advocates call on North Carolinians to stand up against bills targeting undocumented immigrants in the state as part of an Immigrant Rights Advocacy Day on May 21, 2025. North Carolina lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a bill cracking down on state immigration enforcement, sending it to Gov. Josh Stein's desk. Senate Bill 153 requires state agencies to sign agreements cooperating with U.S. Immigrations Customs Enforcement (ICE). It bars undocumented immigrants from receiving state-funded benefits. And it opens local governments that have declared themselves 'sanctuaries' to lawsuits in crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. Senators gave the bill final approval Tuesday, agreeing with changes by the House after previously passing it along party lines back in March. 'I think the people of North Carolina and the people of this nation want our immigration laws enforced,' Senate leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said Tuesday. 'And 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.' Stein, a Democrat, could veto the legislation. If he does, it would be the first of his term — and set up a narrow vote down the line when Republicans attempt to override it. Senate Republicans have a solid veto-proof majority, but House Republicans are one vote short. Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) has previously touted a 'working supermajority,' saying there were several Democrats with whom he believes his caucus could swing for key override votes. Democrats objected to passage of the bill Tuesday. Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-Chatham) called it 'heavy-handed government overreach.' 'This bill really is not about safety,' Murdock said. 'It's about intimidation. It's about fear-mongering.' Shortly after the bill's passage, a group of around 30 protesters in the Senate gallery erupted and left the chamber. 'We will hold you accountable for the harm that you caused,' one woman shouted. Tuesday's vote is the latest in a series of Republican-led efforts to ramp up immigration enforcement in North Carolina. And it comes with a national spotlight on deportation efforts by the Trump administration, as federal and state officials battle over jurisdiction in California and troops arrive in Los Angeles amid protests. Trump also visited North Carolina on Tuesday, speaking at Fort Bragg. 'The situation in LA is beyond a protest,' Berger told reporters Tuesday. Last year's House Bill 10 required local sheriffs in North Carolina to require with ICE. A separate bill moving through the General Assembly aims to close what Republicans have said are 'loopholes' in the law. That proposal, House Bill 318, continued to advance Tuesday. It passed the Senate, 26-17, over opposition from Democrats, and now heads to the House for final approval.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
KHSD to consider banning discriminatory teaching material in proposed revision to policy
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Kern High School District Board may update its policy to ban the use of textbooks and other class materials that would subject a student to discrimination. According to the agenda for the KHSD Board of Trustees meeting scheduled for Monday, the revision is meant to reflect Senate Bill 153, a new California law passed in 2024. The existing policy, first adopted in November 2009 and revised Jan. 18, 2024, outlines the procedure of processing complaints made against instructional materials for the school district. KHSD offers free meals for children, teens this summer The proposed revision, if passed, would prohibit the school district's Board of Trustees from adopting or approving textbooks, instructional material, supplemental teaching material and class curriculum that would make a student suffer from 'unlawful discrimination.' Unlawful discrimination includes discriminating against someone based on their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, immigration status and other characteristics, according to California's Education Code 220. The bill also allows anyone to file a complaint if they believe the board violated this prohibition. However, the KHSD policy maintains the school district will only accept complaints from the school district staff, district residents or the parents and guardians of the district's students. Never miss a story: Make your homepage If the Superintendent determines the violation to be true and the board doesn't take corrective action within 60 days, the California Department of Education can 'use any means authorized' to make the district comply, according to SB 153. The school district board could also face financial penalties, the bill says. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
