After the Trump administration issued several immigration orders, GOP lawmakers in North Carolina want to make the relationship between state law enforcement agencies and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stronger.
A new measure put forward in the state Senate would force the N.C. Department of Public Safety, the Department of Adult Correction, the State Highway Patrol, and the State Bureau of Investigation to sign agreements with federal authorities. These agreements, called 287(g) agreements, let certain state and local law enforcement officers do some of the jobs of federal immigration agents, according to the American Immigration Council.
BPR had reported before on a similar law, House Bill 10. It made all 100 sheriffs in N.C. cooperate with ICE. They had to hold any suspect with a detainer in their jail for up to an extra 48 hours so ICE agents could come and take them.
Last year, the large majority in the N.C. House and Senate overrode then – Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of HB10. The bill became law in December.
The latest measure, SB153, passed through the State Senate Rules and Operations Committee on February 27.
The bill also has rules that stop undocumented immigrants from getting state – funded benefits such as Medicaid or Disaster food relief (D – SNAP). It would give incentives to colleges and universities in the UNC system to follow state laws about immigration.
Claudia Rivera Cotto, a bilingual journalist who covers politics and immigration in North Carolina for Enlace Latino NC, has been reporting on SB153. She talked with BPR before the Senate vote on March 4.
The following is the Q&A from BPR reporter and host Jose Sandoval’s interview with Rivera Cotto. It has been edited to be clearer and shorter.
BPR: What does Senate Bill 153 involve?
RIVERA COTTO: This bill is aimed directly at four state agencies. It makes the (N.C.) Department of Public Safety, the Department of Adult Correction, state highway patrol, and the State Bureau of Investigation follow ICE’s rules. The State Office of Budget Management will have to do some audits. They need to check that undocumented immigrants aren’t getting benefits from state – funded programs. It will stop any N.C. colleges or universities from having policies that could help or protect immigrant students. Finally, it will let any North Carolina citizen sue cities they think have sanctuary city policies.
BPR: Who are the sponsors of this bill and how did it come about?
RIVERA COTTO: It’s sponsored by state Senate leader Phil Berger, and Senators Buck Newton and Warren Daniel. The senators who made SB153 said they’re doing it as part of the state’s effort to back President Donald Trump’s mass deportations plan. This is part of working with federal enforcement. Senator Newton called the measure the “next step” for the state to control illegal immigration.
BPR: The measure has a rule to make sure state funds go to people in N.C. legally. Is it true that immigrants are using state benefits in North Carolina?
RIVERA COTTO: Senator Sophia Chitlik (from Durham) asked why there’s a rule about auditing undocumented immigrants’ use of public benefits. Legally, undocumented immigrants aren’t supposed to get this money. They can’t be in programs like D – SNAP. She asked if there’s any proof that undocumented immigrants are using these benefits in the state. Senator Newton said there’s no evidence that undocumented immigrants are using this program. But he said the audit is needed to check.
BPR: Near the end of the bill, there are possible incentives for UNC institutions to follow state immigration laws. Do you know what those incentives are?
RIVERA COTTO: No, they didn’t say what the incentives would be. What they did make clear is that it will stop colleges from having any policies that protect immigrants.
BPR: What else in the bill is noticeable to you?
RIVERA COTTO: The part that will take away some government immunity protection for local governments. That means North Carolina citizens can now sue cities they think have sanctuary city policies.
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