Speaker Destin Hall has been a leader on toughening border security, introducing legislation in recent years to compel law enforcement to cooperate with ICE. In November 2024 the House and Senate overrode then- Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of House Bill 10 (2023-24), which provides enforcement and funding for crackdowns on illegal immigration.
Earlier this session Speaker Hall introduced House Bill 318, which would strengthen House Bill 10 (2023-24) by expanding the list of offenses that require ICE cooperation to include among others:
- Burglaries and theft
- Embezzlement
- Fraud
- Forgery
- Drunk driving
House Bill 318 passed the House in April.
Today the conservative House majority passed Senate Bill 153, which further enhances state cooperation with ICE, by requiring four state law enforcement agencies to participate in cracking down on illegal immigration. 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.
Senate Bill 153 would also permit for local governments that allow for sanctuary policies to be sued if an illegal immigrant commits a crime within the borders of the county or municipality.
