Earlier this month the North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 318, The Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act. This legislation strengthens House Bill 10 from 2023-24 by expanding the list of offenses that require ICE cooperation to include more offenses such as burglaries, drunk driving, and fraud. It also expands the number of agencies that would be required to cooperate with ICE. The agencies included in this change are the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Adult Corrections, State Highway Patrol, and State Bureau of Investigation.
Several law enforcement organizations have come out in support of House Bill 318, which is currently awaiting Gov. Josh Stein’s signature. From a press release this week:
North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association:
The North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association SUPPORTS House Bill 318 and appreciates the decision by the NC General Assembly to enact this important legislation.
House Bill 318 improves the current language in General Statute 162-62 and will result in more clarity and uniformity in the law for sheriffs and their personnel.
House Bill 318 tightens up the process provided for in General Statute 162-62 so that dangerous criminals are not released back into our communities.
When that happens, those dangerous criminals:
(1) invariably commit more crimes that result in more crime victims, and
(2) then require additional law-enforcement resources:
(a) to investigate those new crimes; and
(b) to recapture the dangerous criminal who was originally released.
In addition, House Bill 318 will make North Carolina safer for our law enforcement officers who must search for and recapture those dangerous criminals if they are prematurely released.
Also, House Bill 318 more closely aligns the state process for dealing with immigration detainers with the timeline preferred by ICE for when ICE takes custody of a person who is subject to an ICE detainer.
Therefore, the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association SUPPORTS House Bill 318.
North Carolina Troopers Association:
The North Carolina Troopers Association commends Speaker Destin Hall and the General Assembly for passing House Bill 318, the Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act.
This critical legislation is a vital step toward making North Carolina safer for all residents. By deterring crime, safeguarding our communities, and empowering law enforcement to effectively remove dangerous individuals from our streets, this bill lays the foundation for a more secure future. This bill ensures that our state continues to be a place where justice and safety prevails.
North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police:
The North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police, representing over 6,000 law enforcement officers, strongly supports House Bill 318, the Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act.
This bipartisan legislation enhances public safety by requiring sheriffs to cooperate with ICE, expanding immigration status checks for serious crimes, and ensuring federal detainer compliance. HB 318 protects our communities and supports law enforcement’s mission to uphold the law.
We applaud Speaker Destin Hall for his leadership and the General Assembly’s passage of HB 318 that will make North Carolina safer.
We call on Governor Stein to sign this critical legislation to keep our communities safe.
North Carolina Police Benevolent Association:
NC House Bill 318 is a “no nonsense” piece of legislation that further enhances the main role of law enforcement across this great state – to protect and serve its citizens. By working collaboratively with both Federal and other State agencies, it will help ensure that violent criminals are not allowed back on our streets.
We cannot forget the tragedy that occurred to one of our own in August of 2022 when K9 Deputy Ned Byrd was murdered by two illegal immigrants. HB 318 will keep these criminals in jail, keep our community safe and help to ensure this never happens again.
With over 17,000 members, representing all ranks of law enforcement, the NC Police Benevolent Association is grateful for the leadership of Speaker Hall and the NC General Assembly for passing this bill and for standing with law enforcement.
