RALEIGH, N.C. – The North Carolina State Senate is pushing ahead with legislation that would give state patrol officers the right to enforce federal immigration laws, but not without opposition.

Senate Bill 145 also threatens loss of funding to force the University of North Carolina system and local governments to provide a person's legal status to authorities.

On Thursday, some Raleigh businesses hosted letter-writing stations for customers to share their views about the bill with lawmakers.

An organizer against the bill, Trey Roberts, explains his concerns.

"It's not getting enough attention,” says Roberts. “It's already passed twice in the North Carolina Senate, and it will practically make patrol officers into immigration officers, and then, also violate students' FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) rights, which is their privacy."

The letters will be hand delivered to lawmakers by the ACLU of North Carolina.

Roberts adds if it passes, the bill allows anonymous tipsters to report undocumented immigrants and local governments that might not be following immigration law. The state attorney general would then be required to investigate every report, which opponents say could be costly.

Supporters of the bill say it would make it easier for the federal government to enforce existing laws.

The legislation passed the Senate last year and could come up for a vote in the House during this year's short session.

But Sarah Gillooly, director of political strategy and advocacy with the ACLU of North Carolina, says the bill creates more problems than it solves.

"SB 145 ultimately does nothing to make our communities safer or more secure in North Carolina,” she says. “What SB 145 does is create confusion and fear, and will jeopardize the rights of both immigrants and non-immigrants in North Carolina."

Roberts says on this issue or any other North Carolinians may feel passionate about, it's important to put pen to paper and write a letter.

"It's more effective than email,” he says. “Phone calls and writing hand-written letters are way more effective, because they don't get them as much. They can purge through those emails. It's more impactful to see that someone from your community is writing to you."

Reporting by North Carolina News Connection in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by the Park Foundation.


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The Nevada Immigrant Coalition and community organizers are sounding the alarm about expected Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Southern Nevada later this week.

Laura Martin, executive director of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, has been speaking with members of the legal community and said they want people in Southern Nevada to be ready, and know what to do.

"We've also heard from some attorneys that there are possibly 100 ICE agents who have moved into the area to complete an enforcement operation through the Easter weekend," Martin reported.

Martin encouraged all immigrants to know their rights if they are approached by ICE. She added regardless of someone's immigration status, all Nevadans have rights.

The ACLU of Nevada has created a guide to ensure people know their rights and know how to take action if their rights are violated.

President Donald Trump is encouraging those who are here illegally to self-deport instead of being deported "the hard way."

Martha Menendez, legal manager for Justice In Motion, encouraged those who think they could be in jeopardy of being deported to prepare a family plan, like having all necessary documentation in one place and thinking about other special arrangements. She added she wants people to be prepared, not scared.

Menendez stressed if ICE does knock on your door, do not open it. First ask for the reason of the visit and request to see what is called a judicial warrant.

"Make sure when you are asking them for documents, they slide it under the door, that they put it up against the window, that you see that it is signed by a judge and that it said they have the right to come in and arrest you," Menendez outlined. "Otherwise, they do not."

Menendez explains if an administrative order is presented, officers do not have the legal authorization to enter forcibly. She reminded everyone they have the right to remain silent and are not obligated to answer questions about their immigration status without a lawyer being present.

A New Mexico immigrant advocacy group says all Americans should be alarmed that the IRS has agreed to share immigrants' taxpayer information with ICE agents because their personal data could be next.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Internal Revenue Service have reached a deal to provide sensitive taxpayer data to federal immigration authorities as part of the deportation push by President Donald Trump.

Marcela Díaz, executive director of Somos Un Pueblo Unido, called the action unconscionable and immoral.

"This is an extreme breach of trust between a federal government agency that has promised immigrant communities, for over 30 years, that it would not share information for the purpose of immigration enforcement," she said.

Díaz noted that other Americans could be next if the Trump administration decides to overturn longstanding laws that protect their personal information. It's estimated that New Mexico's immigrant population contributes nearly $1.5 billion in federal, state and local taxes.

There are close to 15,000 New Mexicans who use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to file their state taxes every year. Diaz said many will face a "Catch-22" -- a choice between breaking tax laws by not filing or possibly suffering even worse consequences.

"By doing it, you are exposing your family and your community to the devastation of detention, deportation and separation of families," she continued.

Díaz believes fear instilled by the new directive will have profound consequences nationwide.

"We are seeing a deterioration of that trust between the citizens of this country and the residents of this country and the essential hard-working families of this country, including immigrants, and these federal government agencies," she explained.

Somos Un Pueblo Unido is a plaintiff in a national lawsuit filed by Public Citizen against the Trump administration and the IRS.

As of Wednesday, the IRS acting commissioner was planning to resign rather than participate in sharing immigrants' tax data with Homeland Security.


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Latino media outlets in Arizona are coming together to ensure the Hispanic and Latino communities are informed and educated about their rights amid the current immigration climate.

Laura Madrid, CEO of the radio stations "La Onda" 1190 AM and 99.5 FM, said this sort of initiative is not new to Arizona. She recalled a similar campaign after Arizona enacted its controversial 2010 immigration law Senate Bill 1070, which critics said led to racial profiling.

Now as an immigration crackdown is underway, Madrid stressed information is power. The campaign consists of Spanish and English digital and radio public service announcements, social media posts and a website.

"Everybody brings in a different role and I think it is important that we open the dialogue to everyone," Madrid explained. "Social media, as you know, is very important in our society and everyday lives, especially rural areas. I wish we could do more in the rural areas of Arizona because those are always forgotten."

Madrid encouraged all Arizonans to know their rights, make a plan, find someone that can offer sound legal advice and to stay informed. The ACLU of Arizona has put together materials on what to know if you are stopped by authorities.

Last week, more than 200 people in Arizona were charged with illegal immigration activity, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona.

Raquel Terán, director of the group Proyecto Progreso, said Spanish media outlets have a committed history of covering the real-life impacts of what she called anti-immigrant and anti-Latino policies. Last November, Arizona voters approved Republican-backed Proposition 314, which would give the state authority to enforce federal immigration policy. The measure is facing legal challenges as opponents argued the law violates the state constitution since it includes no funding mechanism to pay for enforcement.

Terán added it is precisely why communities need to be in the know.

"It is a voice of confidence," Terán stressed. "By the community seeing a coalition of media outlets, it hopefully produces greater confidence and I hope it doesn't alarm folks but rather, prepares them."

Terán added independent of a person's immigration status, everyone has constitutional rights. She and other coalition members want to ensure people are aware of what they are and how to use them.


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