The anti-immigrant bill HB318, which tightens the provisions of the state law HB10 of 2024 to force sheriffs to cooperate with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will become law after the state Legislature today overrode Governor Josh Stein’s veto.
The Republican majority needed the support of at least one Democrat in the House of Representatives to be able to override the governor’s veto, and they got it thanks to Mecklenburg legislator Carla Cunningham, who once again voted in favor of this anti-immigrant legislation despite the rejection of her own party.
“No country is going to allow people to come in and not acknowledge its constitution, legal systems and laws. They were not tolerated” Cunningham said during the debate. “So, do you think I can go to another country and set up my own rules to live by, use the language I choose, and then tell that country that you must speak my language? That’s not going to happen, nor should it.”
Cunningham’s speech was interrupted several times due to voices from people in the galleries and even by Democratic Rep. Deb Butler, who asked to suspend the debate and move on to the vote, but House Speaker Destin Hall let her finish her statement.
Cunningham ended by saying that she is not willing to be silenced by those who, she said, seek to prevent her from continuing to “raise the voice of her ancestors,” who came to the country as slaves and “built the country” sweating in the fields of cotton, rice and tobacco.
“So, if today you ask me to join another group of people to raise awareness about their plight, I will unapologetically say ‘no'”, she said.
With Cunningham’s vote, the governor’s veto was overridden by a vote of 72 to 48, and HB318 was sent to the Senate where Republicans had no trouble ratifying the decision by a 30 to 19 vote.
Following the decision, HB318 will become law on October 1, 2025.
SB153 ONE STEP AWAY FROM BECOMING LAW
Another anti-immigrant bill that was also vetoed by Governor Stein is now halfway to becoming law.
SB153, which proposes, among other measures, to force several state agencies such as the state Highway Patrol to collaborate with ICE, was sent to the House of Representatives after the Senate voted to override its veto by 30 votes in favor and 19 against.
However, this bill was not included in the calendar of the day in the House of Representatives to ratify the decision, which is pending until tomorrow, at 10:30 a.m.
SB153 also proposes to remove immunity from cities or counties that have “sanctuary policies” to protect the undocumented people, forces state universities to collaborate with ICE, and audit all public programs to ensure that no immigrants without legal status receives benefits from the state.
