RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina legislation designed to address recent decisions by some newly-elected sheriffs to stop assisting federal immigration agents is resurfacing in a committee.
The Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled debate Wednesday on a House Bill 370, which passed that chamber in April. The House legislation required sheriffs in all 100 counties to fulfill detainer requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A few sheriffs elected late last year, including Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller, have said they wouldn't.
The bill authors say it would only put into law the cooperative approach that sheriffs have had with federal law enforcement for decades. Critics are worried that directive would undermine community safety because immigrants in the country unlawfully would fear reporting crimes.
Advocates for immigrants have held several rallies opposing the bill.
