NCGOP Calls On Cooper To Enforce Immigration Laws | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: The author of this post is Barry Smith, who is an associate editor for the Carolina Journal, John Hood Publisher.

State Republicans want Democratic AG to crack down on 'sanctuary cities'

    RALEIGH - State GOP Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse on Thursday called on Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper to support legislation passed by the General Assembly prohibiting local governments in North Carolina from establishing sanctuary cities that restrict enforcement of immigration laws.

    "It's a fundamental question the citizens of North Carolina have a right to have answered," Woodhouse said. "Does the attorney general stand for the rule of law and stand with the governor in ending sanctuary cities, or does he stand with Hillary Clinton and against the rule of law?"

    Cooper is expected to seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2016.

    Clinton, a Democratic candidate for president, had called on Republican Gov. Pat McCrory to veto House Bill 318, passed by the General Assembly during the waning days of the 2015 session, also requires companies contracting with governments in the state to use the federal E-verify employment verification system, prohibits the use of matricula consular documents for identification purposes, and puts time limits on food stamp benefits for able bodied adults without children. McCrory has the option of signing the bill, vetoing it, or letting it become law without his signature.

    The governor responded to Clinton's request on Twitter, stating: "We're not going to buckle under pressure from @HillaryClinton!"

    A spokeswoman for Cooper said the attorney general's office did not plan to respond to Woodhouse's comments.

    Woodhouse said Cooper has been silent on the issue of sanctuary cities. The state GOP has launched a petition encouraging Cooper to support ending sanctuaries in the state, and urging the state's citizens to sign it, Woodhouse said.

    Meanwhile, a group called United We Dream is sending tweets urging McCrory to veto the bill and encouraging people to contact the governor asking for a veto.