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With 72 votes in favor and 44 against, on November 19 the North Carolina House of Representatives overrode the governor’s veto Roy Cooper, on the HB-10 bill, which is considered by activists to be anti-immigrant. The bill now advances to the Senate, where expected to become law in the next 24 hours.
HB-10, a controversial law
Previously, on September 20, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper vetoed HB-10, a measure that seeks orforce local agencies to carry out immigration tasksin addition to diverting funds intended for public schools to finance private institutions.
In the November 5 general election, Republican legislators lost the “super” majority they had in the North Carolina General Assembly, however, This change will take effect in January 2025. In the last session of the year, the Republican majority used the power to override the veto of Cooper, who is a Democrat.
He bill makes collaboration mandatory between local agencies, such as sheriff’s offices, with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and holding immigrants who commit certain serious crimes to be sent to federal agents. Activists warn that this goes against due processsince an arrested person does not necessarily mean that he is guilty, that must be determined by a judge.
HB-10 would transform a previously voluntary policy into a requirement for sheriffs. According to attorney Becca O’Neill of Carolina Migrant Network, this measure could violate constitutional rights by keeping people in custody without a solid legal basis.
“If someone is arrested for driving under the influence and posts bail, but is not released because there is an ICE request, we are on unconstitutional ground,” O’Neill said.
In 2021 and 2020, the majority of ICE detentions in North Carolina were due to traffic violations or driving under the influence cases, not violent crimes. This reinforces criticism that the law disproportionately penalizes immigrants for minor offenses.
Rejection of bailiffs and activists
Sheriffs from counties like Mecklenburg, Wake and Durham, Democrats, have been vocal in their opposition to HB-10. They argue that the bill interferes with their ability to prioritize the needs of their communities.
“This policy does not address real safety concerns, but instead creates more fear and uncertainty in our communities,” they stated.
For their part, activists such as Pilar Rocha-Goldberg, director of El Centro Hispano, highlight the human impacts of these measures.
“We have seen how ICE comes to our communities arbitrarily, destroying families and generating a climate of fear. “This is very worrying,” he said.
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden said the bill also becomes a political issue because it puts the authority of democratically elected sheriffs in the crosshairs.
In the 2018 election, several African American sheriffs took office promising to end deals with ICE. As happened with the 287(g) program, which allows local authorities to act as immigration agents.
Currently, only 11 of North Carolina’s 100 counties maintain active agreements under this program. Implementing HB-10 would undermine those local decisions by imposing mandatory collaboration with ICE.
What’s next?
Activists denounced HB-10, stating that by linking local authorities with immigration tasks, would damage relations between the immigrant community and the authorities. Therefore, fewer people would report being victims of crime, creating a public safety problem.
The future of HB-10 It is now in the hands of the Senate, where the Republicans have a majority. The vote is expected to occur on Wednesday, November 20 at 2:00 pm Meanwhile, the immigrant community is preparing for what could be a significant change in its interaction with local authorities.
As a website editor for world-today-news.com, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with two guests about the controversial HB-10 bill that was recently passed by the North Carolina House of Representatives. Our first guest is Representative Spencer Meriwether, a Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives who supported the bill. Our second guest is Melissa Marshall, a Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives who opposed the bill.
1.Can you tell us about the HB-10 bill and why you supported it? (Rep. Spencer Meriwether)
2. What specific concerns do you have about the bill’s impact on immigrant communities in North Carolina? (Rep. Melissa Marshall)
3. Do you believe that fears of HB-10 leading to racial profiling and civil rights violations are justified? And how do you plan to address them? (Rep. Melissa Marshall)
4. How do you think the bill will impact law enforcement and public safety in North Carolina? (Rep. Spencer Meriwether)
5. Do you think there are better ways to address immigration issues at the state level without targeting local sheriff’s departments? (Rep. Melissa Marshall)
6. Can you explain the significance of overriding the governor’s veto on this bill, and what it means for your constituents? (Rep. Spencer Meriwether)
7. As a supporter of the bill, how do you plan to ensure that local sheriffs have the necessary resources and training to comply with its provisions? (Rep. Melissa Marshall)
8. How do you envision the implementation of HB-10 will affect the relationship between local law enforcement and immigrant communities? (Rep. Melissa Marshall)
9. In your opinion, what are the potential long-term effects of HB-10 on the economy and workforce of North Carolina? (Rep. Spencer Meriwether)
10. Can you give us a sense of how your constituents feel about the bill and the ongoing debate surrounding it? (Rep. Melissa Marshall)
