[Ads /]
The bill passed North Carolina's General Assembly but Gov. Cooper vetoed the bill Wednesday.
Critics of the bill said it was a targeted attempt to remove seven newly elected sheriff's from office.
"This is a terrible decision for the great people of North Carolina. He should reverse his decision and get back to the basics of fighting crime," said President Trump in a tweet Saturday morning.
Cooper defended his decision Saturday night while speaking at the 84th Founders Banquet.
"North Carolina is a welcoming state. We are not going to tolerate discrimination. We want to make sure we send that message out across this country and across the world. And that is why I vetoed this House Bill 370. We have to depend on these legislators to hold it," Cooper said.
RELATED: Relief from one side, anger from the other as Cooper vetoes ICE bill
[Ads /]
Cooper released the following statement about his veto:
"This legislation is simply about scoring partisan political points and using fear to divide North Carolina. As the former top law enforcement officer of our state, I know that current law allows the state to jail and prosecute dangerous criminals regardless of immigration status. This bill, in addition to being unconstitutional, weakens law enforcement in North Carolina by mandating sheriffs to do the job of federal agents, using local resources that could hurt their ability to protect their counties. Finally, to elevate their partisan political pandering, the legislature has made a sheriff's violation of this new immigration duty as the only specifically named duty violation that can result in a sheriff's removal from office."
RELATED: 3 North Carolina sheriffs speak against controversial immigration bill