The legislation was ratified by the Senate and sent to the governor’s office, who has 10 days to act on it.
Raleigh. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization El Pueblo condemns the passage of two dangerous anti-immigrant bills SB153 in the General Assembly.
Bills HB318 and SB153, which seek among other things to expand the collaboration of law enforcement agencies and other state entities with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), were sent to the governor’s office after a rushed session today.
SB153 seeks to require four state law enforcement agencies, including the Highway Patrol and the Department of Public Safety, to establish collaborative agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to identify, detain, and potentially deport undocumented immigrants in the state.
In addition, it directs state agencies to take measures to ensure that non-citizens do not receive any state-funded benefits, creates more penalties for local governments that protect immigrants, and requires state universities to collaborate with ICE.
HB318 expands the anti-immigrant provisions of state law HB10, passed in 2024, which requires all sheriffs in the state to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The bill expands the list of offenses that require sheriffs and jail administrators to consult with ICE to determine the immigration status of detainees and adds that same burden to judicial magistrates before determining their pretrial release.
Additionally, it delays the start of the mandatory 48-hour detention period for immigrants while they wait for ICE to take custody and requires sheriffs to notify ICE before releasing them.
Following the final vote on these two bills, El Pueblo issued the following public statement:
“Instead of addressing the real and most urgent needs of the North Carolina community, the majority in the state Legislature decided to pass unnecessary and harmful legislations to support the anti-immigrant agenda promoted by the federal government.
SB153 not only undermines the democratic balance of power by forcing agencies that depend on the state executive branch to collaborate with federal authorities in the persecution of immigrants, but as HB318, it will also create further division, uncertainty, and insecurity in the state.
Experience has shown that collaboration between local agencies and ICE only damages community trust in law enforcement, discouraging victims and witnesses from reporting crimes and collaborating with authorities, making us all less safe.
SB153 also fuels a false anti-immigrant narrative that accuses undocumented immigrants of receiving public benefits without evidence. In reality, current laws already prevent them from doing so, even though they help fund these social programs by paying billions of dollars in taxes each year.
Immigrants are our friends, neighbors, and coworkers. They contribute daily to the state’s economy and development, so they deserve respect and dignified treatment; they do not deserve to be persecuted as criminals because of their immigration status.
El Pueblo is calling on Governor Josh Stein to stand with North Carolina’s immigrant community and veto these dangerous and harmful bills, SB153 and HB318”.
El Pueblo also invites the community to join this call to the governor
