Bill requiring NC sheriffs to cooperate with ICE advances

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – A state Senate committee advanced a bill Tuesday that would require sheriffs to cooperate with federal immigration officials.

The bill is similar to legislation Republicans in the General Assembly passed twice previously and Gov Roy Cooper (D) vetoed.

However, Republicans now have a veto-proof supermajority.

Rep. Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) said he believes the measure is necessary to address public safety issues. It would require sheriffs to honor requests by ICE to detain people for up to 48 hours if they’ve been arrested for serious crimes and are suspected of being in the country illegally.

“You never know what you’re walking into as a law enforcement officer when you’re going to serve a warrant, or in this case, an ICE detainer,” said Hall. “If they’re allowed to do that within the confines of the jail, they’re much safer as law enforcement officers. The individual who they’re taking into custody is safer.”

Hall said the bill came in response to Democratic sheriffs in many of the state’s largest counties terminating agreements with ICE and refusing to honor detainer requests.

Opponents of the bill raised concerns that it’s unconstitutional because it could force sheriffs to hold someone even after they’ve satisfied conditions of release.

“This law exposes sheriffs to a significant risk of financial liability, and this bill can’t insulate them from that,” said Sejal Zota, co-founder and legal director of Just Futures Law.

Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, a Republican who unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor this year, came to Raleigh to support the bill.

“We’ve been over four years working on this bill. It’s about protecting America. It’s about protecting our state. It’s about protecting our citizens,” he said.

Sen. Buck Newton (R-Wilson) amended the bill Tuesday to include a new provision that would allow a citizen or law enforcement to file a complaint with the state attorney general’s office if they believe a sheriff is not complying.

Immigrant rights groups, including El Pueblo, spoke against the bill, saying it could create fear and damage efforts by sheriffs to build trust in the community, potentially making immigrants less likely to report crimes.

“By forcing sheriffs to collaborate with ICE, it will make people in our community distrust law enforcement even more,” said Veronica Augilar, communications director for El Pueblo.

Sen. Danny Britt (R-Columbus) responded to some people’s concerns about threats of deportation, saying the bill does not focus on people stopped for routine traffic incidents.

“Without those good, hard-working folks in eastern North Carolina, the agriculture industry would shut down. The construction industry would shut down. That’s not what this bill does. This deals with violent offenders who have been deported for violent acts,” he said.

The bill is expected to be on the floor of the Senate for a vote later this week. If it passes, the House would have to reconsider it in light of the amendment made Tuesday.

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