RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina House Republicans passed a broad immigration bill on Wednesday, seeking to mandate further state cooperation with ICE, prevent unauthorized immigrants from receiving state benefits and open local governments with sanctuary policies up to civil lawsuits.

“These are all common-sense things that need to be done to ensure that we are doing what we can at the state level to address illegal immigration and protect our citizens,” Rep. Reece Pyrtle, a Rockingham County Republican, said.

The bill, Senate Bill 153, would require four state law enforcement agencies to participate in the federal 287(g) program, which allows state officers to carry out immigration actions usually done by federal ICE agents.

Officers from the N.C. Departments of Public Safety and Adult Correction, the State Highway Patrol and the State Bureau of Investigation — executive agencies which are overseen by Democratic Gov. Josh Stein — would all be required to carry out ICE functions.

The bill passed 60-46 after a heated debate, with Democrats saying it would contribute to a “culture of fear” among immigrants.

“Who is this bill protecting?” Rep. Deb Butler, a New Hanover County Democrat, said. “Not the children who are afraid their parents aren’t going to come home. Not the sheriffs who need discretion to keep trust within their communities intact. Not the farm worker who’s feeding us but too afraid to seek medical care.”

While a previous version of SB 153 already passed the Senate, the bill will have to go back to the chamber for a concurrence vote before it goes to the governor’s desk.

Stein’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the bill’s passage Wednesday.

Previously, he has avoided directly saying whether or not he supports the bill. A spokesperson for his office told the News & Observer in March he was reviewing the bill and that “we will always do everything in our power to protect people’s rights and safety.”

Worries about what’s in NC SB 153

SB 153 comes a year after Republican lawmakers successfully enacted a law forcing county sheriffs to cooperate with ICE.

At the time, Rep. Carla Cunningham, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, broke with her party to support that bill, but she said on Wednesday that SB 153 goes too far.

“Today I’m going to draw a line in the sand,” she said. “...I want ICE to get to people in my communities that are devastating us, breaking in and smuggling drugs. Yes, I still want that. But I don’t want innocent people to get hurt.”

In addition to requiring further cooperation with ICE, SB 153 would also direct state agencies to ensure non-citizens do not receive a variety of state-funded benefits, such as housing assistance or unemployment.

Democrats noted that undocumented immigrants are already ineligible for most state and federal benefit programs. Others worried that the legislation could affect the children of undocumented immigrants who, as citizens, are eligible for certain benefit programs, but whose parents may fear deportation if they sign them up.

Another portion of the bill would allow local governments that approve sanctuary policies for immigrants to be sued if an undocumented person commits a crime in their jurisdiction.

Rep. Charles Smith, a Cumberland County Democrat, said this would be an unprecedented expansion of liability for local governments and would unfairly hold them responsible for the actions of others.

“I think we have to have some restraint and honor a limited government idea,” he said. “Allow local folks to make decisions, to govern for themselves. And if people in that area — that county or city— do not agree with the actions of those they have elected, there’s a process for that. You can run against them. You can engage folks in your community to change mind, to elect somebody else.”

Another NC immigration bill to come

House Speaker Destin Hall rebuffed Democratic criticism of the bill, saying North Carolina voters agreed with Republicans’ agenda.

“I think overwhelmingly, the people in the state do not believe that folks who are here illegally should be getting government benefits,” Hall told reporters. “People in the state believe that local government should cooperate with ICE, really anytime, and especially when you’re dealing with folks who are here illegally and committing crimes.”

SB 153 may not be the only immigration bill passed this session.

Lawmakers are also moving a bill that would require further cooperation with ICE from sheriffs, expanding on the requirements already passed last year.

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