On the heels of several immigration orders by the Trump administration, North Carolina GOP lawmakers want to strengthen the relationship between state law enforcement agencies and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
A new measure proposed in the state Senate would require 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 the federal authorities. The agreements, called 287 g agreements, deputize certain state and local law enforcement officers to perform certain functions of federal immigration agents, according to the American Immigration Council.
BPR previously reported on a similar law, known as House Bill 10, which required all 100 sheriffs in N.C. to cooperate with ICE and hold any suspect with a detainer in their jail for up to an extra 48 hours to allow time for ICE agents to take them into custody.
Last year, the supermajority of the N.C. House and Senate overrode then- Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of HB10, and the bill became law last December.
The latest measure, SB153, passed through the State Senate Rules and Operations Committee on Feb. 27.
The bill also includes provisions prohibiting undocumented immigrants from getting state-funded benefits like Medicaid or Disaster food relief (D-SNAP). It would create incentives for colleges and universities in the UNC system to comply with state laws related to immigration.
Claudia Rivera Cotto, a bilingual journalist who covers politics and immigration in North Carolina for Enlace Latino NC, has been covering SB153. She chatted with BPR ahead of the Senate vote on March 4.
The Q&A from BPR reporter and host Jose Sandoval’s interview with Rivera Cotto is below, edited for clarity and brevity.
BPR: What does Senate Bill 153 entail?
RIVERA COTTO: This bill is specifically targeting four state agencies. It's mandating the (N.C.) Department of Public Safety, the Department of Adult Correction, state highway patrol, and the State Bureau of Investigation to comply with ICE. It will require some audits from the State Office of Budget Management to make sure that undocumented immigrants are not currently benefiting from programs that are with state money. It will prohibit any N.C. colleges or universities from adapting policies that could benefit or protect immigrant students. Lastly, it will allow any citizens from N.C. to sue cities that they believe are having sanctuary city policies.
BPR: Who are the sponsors of this bill and how did it come together?
RIVERA COTTO: By state Senate leader Phil Berger. It's sponsored by Senators Buck Newton and Warren Daniel. The senators that have created SB153 had mentioned that they're doing so in a state effort to support President Donald Trump's mass deportations plan. This is part of the collaboration with federal enforcement. Senator Newton called the measure the, “next step” for the state to to curb illegal immigration.
BPR: The measure has a provision to make sure state funds are being used for people in N.C. legally. Is there any truth to immigrants using state benefits here in North Carolina?
RIVERA COTTO: Senator Sophia Chitlik (Durham) asked why there is the provision about auditing undocumented immigrants' participation in public benefits since legally undocumented immigrants are not supposed to be receiving this fund. They are excluded from programs like DSnap and she asked if there's any proof that undocumented immigrants are doing this in this state. Senator Newton said that there is no evidence that undocumented immigrants are using this program, but he argued that this audit is necessary so they can verify that.
BPR: Towards the end of the bill, there are possible incentives for UNC institutions to comply with state laws related to immigration. Do you know what those incentives are?
RIVERA COTTO: No, that's another thing that they did not explain what the incentives would be. What they really clarified is that it would prohibit the colleges from adopting any policies that would protect immigrants.
BPR: What else from the bill stands out to you?
RIVERA COTTO: The provision that will remove certain government immunity protection for local governments. That part means that citizens from N.C. can now sue those cities that they believe are having sanctuary city policies.
