Bills Pass State Senate On School Cell Phone Use, Illegal Immigration in NC

The first bill restricts cell phone use in public schools. It is somewhat amazing that statewide legislation is needed to effect such a ban, and that parents have been among the forces that have pushed against cell phone restrictions. But that is the world in which we live today.

The second bill steps up the fight against illegal immigration and sanctuary cities/ counties. It does the following, according to the Speaker Pro Tempore’s office:

• Require state law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Public Safety, Department of Adult Correction, the State Highway Patrol, and the State Bureau of Investigation, to enter into memorandums of agreement (MOAs) with the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to fully cooperate with immigration laws.
• Those law enforcement agencies would also be required to determine the immigration status of any person in their custody or under their supervision.
• The Office of State Budget and Management would be required to determine whether, and to what extent, certain state-funded public benefit programs are being provided to unauthorized immigrants and post its findings publicly.
• The OSBM would then be required to take steps to ensure that state-funded public benefits are only being provided to those who qualify.
• While Sanctuary City policies are already prohibited in the state, certain jurisdictions continue to defy state law. To hold them accountable, any county or municipality that creates Sanctuary City policies will have its local immunity waived, thereby allowing citizens harmed by illegal immigrants to sue them.
• Finally, it prohibits UNC System campuses from adopting any policy that does not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and/or adopting sanctuary school policies.