Gov. Stein vetoes 2 bills aimed at immigration, concealed carry bill

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- North Carolina Governor Josh Stein vetoed three bills and signed one House bill into law, including two bills aimed at immigration.

Gov. Stein vetoed Senate Bill 50, Senate Bill 153, and House Bill 318 and signed House Bill 126 into law on Friday afternoon.

It all comes after days of protests and rallies in front of the executive mansion, urging the governor to make that decision.

Senate Bill 153 would force state agencies to "cooperate to the fullest extent of the law" with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"Senate Bill 153 would also make us less safe, so I am vetoing this legislation. At a time when our law enforcement is already stretched thin, this bill takes state law enforcement officers away from their existing state duties and forces them to act as federal immigration agents. Furthermore, under current law, people without lawful immigration status already are prevented from receiving Medicaid, SNAP, Section 8, and other benefits," Stein said in a statement Friday.

House Bill 318 would compel law enforcement agencies to honor detainer requests from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"I am vetoing House Bill 318 because it is unconstitutional. I support the bill's efforts to require sheriffs to contact federal immigration authorities about people in their custody charged with sexual battery, armed robbery, arson, assault on public officials and court personnel, and other dangerous crimes. People who commit these crimes should be held accountable, whether or not they are here without legal authorization, and those charged with serious offenses ought to receive increased scrutiny from federal immigration officials."

"My oath of office requires that I uphold the Constitution of the United States. Therefore, I cannot sign this bill because it would require sheriffs to unconstitutionally detain people for up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released. The Fourth Circuit is clear that local law enforcement officers cannot keep people in custody solely based on a suspected immigration violation. But let me be clear: anyone who commits a serious crime in North Carolina must be prosecuted and held accountable regardless of their immigration status," Sten said.

The next steps mean that both bills will go back to the legislature for an override vote. Both initially passed on near party-line votes.

Reactions

Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead agrees with the governor, saying it would be overreach for the local Sheriff's department to be able to do their jobs.

"We already do cooperate with ICE. I'm just not going to do their job for them. And we cooperate with all of our federal partners. And so I do think this was a bit of an overreach to try to tell elected sheriffs how to do their job in their respective communities," Birkhead said.

Birkhead said the bills would have gone against Durham County being a welcoming community.

"We want to make sure that we treat everyone fairly and protect their rights. And these bills, to me, could have infringed upon those rights and due process," he said.

In Nash County, Sheriff Keith Stone said his department already cooperates with ICE.

"It is going to change absolutely nothing," Stone said.

He said he supports the two bills and argues that it would enforce current immigration laws, and only those committing crimes should be concerned.

"There's a lot of people that are scared at this time. I've seen no raids or anything else unless it is for criminal activity. And for the bad people in the community," Stone said. "And whether you're a new person that just got your citizenship or you're working on your citizenship or your person here that's been here forever, you don't want that criminal element in your county or your neighborhood, and I applaud the government for saying, hey, we're going to get these bad players out of our areas."

Following Gov. Stein's veto announcement, Republican Speaker Destin Hall released a statement:

"Governor Stein has made one thing clear today: he stands with criminal illegal aliens and the most radical elements of his party's base over the safety and security of North Carolinians. Make no mistake, the NC House will override the Governor's veto at the earliest opportunity."

In a statement, Senator Phil Berger also said, "Today, Gov. Stein proved where his allegiances are. He'd rather prioritize his far-left donors and their dangerous open-border policies over the citizens of North Carolina who are desperately pleading for us to put an end to the illegal immigration crisis. I look forward to the Senate overriding his veto,"

Senate Bill 50: Gun bill would let 18-year-olds carry concealed handguns

Current law requires a concealed weapons holder to be at least 21 to obtain a permit. The person must submit an application to the local sheriff, pass a firearms safety training course, and cannot "suffer from a physical or mental infirmity that prevents the safe handling of a handgun" to obtain the permit. No safety training would be required if getting a permit is no longer necessary.

Stein released a statement following his veto:

"This bill makes North Carolinians less safe and undermines responsible gun ownership. Therefore, I am vetoing it. The bill eliminates training requirements associated with concealed carry permits and reduces the age to carry a concealed weapon from 21 to 18 years old. Authorizing teenagers to carry a concealed weapon with no training whatsoever is dangerous. The bill would also make the job of a law enforcement officer more difficult and less safe. We can and should protect the right to bear arms without recklessly endangering law enforcement officers and our people."

Democratic lawmakers argued the same during legislative debate. Gun-control groups praised the veto.

Conservative advocates for the bill say removing the permit requirement would strengthen the safety of law-abiding citizens.

"Law-abiding North Carolinians shouldn't have to jump through hoops to effectively exercise their Second Amendment rights," Senate leader Phil Berger said in a press release criticizing the veto and planning for an override vote in his chamber.

Permitless carry is already lawful in 29 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. North Carolina would also be one of the last states in the Southeast to implement that legislation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.