N.C. Gov. McCrory signs controversial immigration bill
Gov. McCrory signs controversial immigration bill
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LYNN HEY/News & Record
Gov. Pat McCrory hands Major A. Azelton, Randolph Co. Sheriff Department a pen after he signed into law HB 318, the so-called immigration bill, which prevents cities from accepting any identification not issued by a government agency at the Guilford County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015, in Greensboro, N.C.
Posted: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 3:22 pm
By Kate Elizabeth Queram
GREENSBORO — A controversial bill that prohibits the use of community IDs created for undocumented immigrants, like those that had been used in Greensboro, is now law.
Gov. Pat McCrory signed House Bill 318 Wednesday afternoon at the Guilford County Sheriff's Office, surrounded by area law enforcement officials and local and state representatives.
“We are a nation of laws," McCrory said before signing the legislation. "No politician should choose which laws to obey and which laws not to obey, and this includes immigration law."
The Protect North Carolina Workers Act prohibits any city or county from having any policy, ordinance or procedure that would restrict the enforcement of federal immigration law.
It also prevents cities from accepting any identification not issued by a government agency.
Prior to signing the bill, McCrory noted that he enjoys coming back to Guilford County, where he attended high school. It's the place, he said, "where I got my values."
Greensboro officials had opposed the legislation previously. The City Council recently passed a resolution against it, calling the measure a strike at immigrants, the poor and the city itself.
Earlier this year, Greensboro became one of the first cities to accept IDs created by the nonprofit FaithAction for such things as opening accounts at the water department and getting a library card.
Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan has said the cards and the city’s policy made it easier for immigrants who are not yet citizens to interact with the government.
The city stopped accepting the cards after HB 318 passed the General Assembly, but Sheriff BJ Barnes said Wednesday that the law would not keep people from using the IDs.
"The law does not preclude them from carrying it," he said. "But the IDs have no value. There's no data to back them up — no fingerprints, no background checks.
People have tried to make this an emotional issue, but it's a legal one."
Proponents of immigrants' rights and immigration reform have decried the legislation since it was introduced, saying that it unfairly targets immigrants and people living in poverty.
Aside from the identification provision, the new law also prohibits the state Department of Health and Human Services from extending food stamp benefits to unemployed, childless adults.
There were no protesters at the sheriff's office as McCrory signed the bill, but a group convened at the International Civil Rights Center & Museum shortly after to decry the governor's actions.
"One of the most effective ways for one group to dehumanize another is to take away access to basic needs," said David Fraccaro, executive director of FaithAction. "Make no mistake, this is the goal of HB 318."
Fraccaro delivered his remarks in front of dozens of protesters, silent but holding signs. They read "Stop separating families," "No human being is illegal," "Welcome the stranger" and other slogans.
Now that the bill is law, protesters urged the crowd to change the system using the power left at their disposal — voting.
"Politicians can be unseated and laws can be undone," said Anna Fesmire, co-president of The League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad. "We condemn this bill, both for its mean-spirited origins and the hypocrisy the governor signing this bill represents."
A Greensboro police captain said the ID program will continue in the private sector.
"I still think it is a great program to bring pride to people who are living in our community," Capt. Mike Richey said Wednesday. "Anything that makes someone feel closer to the community is a good thing as a whole."
http://www.greensboro.com/news/mccro...2a0273f1d.html
Group plans protest following immigration bill signing
Thursday, October 29, 2015 06:23AM
RALEIGH (WTVD) --
Advocates for undocumented workers are in an uproar after Governor Pat McCrory signed HB318 Wednesday - the highly controversial law taking aim at immigration and food stamp benefits.
A mass protest is now planned for Thursday, taking place in front of the Governor's Mansion in Raleigh.
More than 100 people are expected to gather at 4pm to rally against what they are calling anti-immigrant, anti-poor legislation.
The new law prevents local municipalities from adopting "sanctuary city" policies and protecting undocumented workers.
"We cannot allow our local officials in towns and cities to make up their own rules that conflict with our nation's laws and our nations values," said McCrory Wednesday. "The concepts and policies of sanctuary cities is contrary to oath of all elected officials. No politician should select which laws to obey or not to obey and this includes immigration. Law enforcement officers should be helping enforce our immigration laws."
The law also restricts the kind of identification cities can provide and immigrants can use. The law prohibits the Matricula Consular - a photo ID issued by the Mexican government to nationals outside the country.
Undocumented workers rely on the Matricula Consular for everything from doctor visits to school documentation and many worry, without it, they'll will be frozen out.
What's more, the new law directs law enforcement officers to follow the federal law on immigration and work with federal immigration agents.
However, critics say it will do more harm than good, pushing undocumented workers further into the shadows.
"A mother called me, her daughter had been raped and she was too scared to call the police because she was undocumented," Community Advocate Addy Jeffrey said.
Critics also say the bill will drive a wedge between police and the people they serve, although the governor and supporters say it's a crime-fighting tool.
http://abc11.com/politics/group-plan...gning/1056938/
Immigration protesters block Raleigh street in front of Executive Mansion
By WNCN Staff Published: October 29, 2015, 4:26 pm Updated: October 29, 2015, 5:15 pm
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Protesters in downtown Raleigh have blocked part of Blount Street in front of the Executive Mansion to protest Gov. Pat McCrory’s signing of an immigration bill on Wednesday.
McCrory signed the bill, House Bill 318, that bans sanctuary cities, among other changes in immigration policy.
That signing brought an explosive response Thursday afternoon as a crowd gathered at the Executive Mansion. Six protesters sat down on Blount Street and blocked traffic on a key artery in downtown Raleigh around rush hour.
Others watched, held signs and chanted their support while Raleigh Police watched. One banner said, “We make America great.”
Earlier Thursday, McCrory defended the bill in an extensive interview with WNCN. He said allowing “sanctuary cities” would lead “to chaos.”
Read McCrory’s comments here
Traffic was being re-routed by the Raleigh Police as the protest continued.
http://wncn.com/2015/10/29/immigrati...utive-mansion/
