The House on Wednesday passed legislation that would allow people to sue cities or counties that have so-called "sanctuary" policies for people in the U.S. illegally.
The 65-52 party-line House vote comes two days after the Senate approved House Bill 370, which would require sheriffs to check the immigration status of people booked into county jails and hold people in jail for federal immigration agents. Sheriffs who don't could be removed from office.
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North Carolina outlawed sanctuary cities four years ago.
House Bill 135, which now heads to the Senate, would nullify any local policy or ordinance that prohibits law enforcement from gathering immigration information on "any individual," directing law enforcement not to collect such information or blocking the information from being forwarded to federal immigration officials.
The proposal also would allow people to seek court orders to have such policies halted and to have the affected county or city pay their legal fees.
"This bill not only harms our immigrant communities, it harms local counties and cities that wish to protect their most vulnerable residents and prevents them from becoming welcoming cities to those in need," Moises Serrano, political director of advocacy group El Pueblo, said in a statement.
Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, said the bill appears to allow lawsuits against a sheriff's policies, such as not honoring immigration detainers and keep people who have posted bond in jail. The Senate stripped a provision allowing such civil actions from House Bill 370 before approving the measure.
Several sheriffs, including those in Wake, Durham and Orange counties, have said they can better serve local Latinx communities by refusing to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Harrison also noted that House Bill 135 would allow anybody, even people living out of state or corporations, to sue over local policies because the bill spells out that they "need not allege or prove special damage different from that suffered by the public at large." That would invite many suits, she said, forcing counties and cities to spend money unnecessarily to defend themselves.
"I don't believe we actually want any person to be able to bring an expensive and time-consuming lawsuit against any of our cities or counties," agreed Rep. John Autry, D-Mecklenburg.
Counties or cities could recover damages from the plaintiffs in such suits only if they can prove the suits were filed "in bad faith" or found to be frivolous.
"This allows the citizens to step up to the plate and be able to stand up for what they believe in," Rep. Michael Speciale, R-Craven, said in support of the bill.
Gov. Roy Cooper has already expressed opposition to House Bill 370, which could be on his desk by the end of the week, and immigration advocates are urging him to veto both measures, with a rally outside the Executive Mansion set for Wednesday evening.