Whatley Blames Vetoes for ICE Deployment in North Carolina
In an interview on Wednesday, North Carolina Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley attributed the need for a significant ICE presence in Charlotte and the Triangle area to repeated vetoes by Democratic lawmakers of legislation promoting local cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security.
ICE, along with Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, recently apprehended over 120 undocumented immigrants in Charlotte, planning to transport them to Raleigh. There have also been reported ICE operations in Durham, part of the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Triangle region.
Whatley, a native of Watauga and former chair of the Republican National Committee, pointed fingers at former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, calling out what Cooper himself described as dysfunction within local law enforcement.
“If Roy Cooper hadn’t vetoed a bill that would have required sheriffs to honor ICE detainers, these individuals wouldn’t be on the streets,” Whatley stated.
He expressed disappointment that federal intervention was needed to address issues in Charlotte, suggesting local officials seemed less concerned than advocates supporting illegal immigrants. “It’s unfortunate that the Trump administration has to step in to clean up a city like Charlotte,” he said.
During his time in office, Cooper vetoed at least three bills from the Republican-controlled legislature that aimed at enforcing local compliance with ICE. One notable bill from August 2019 would have mandated that sheriffs respect ICE detainers and hold suspects until they could be turned over to federal authorities. Cooper argued that such legislation plays on fears that divide the state.
Another proposed measure, dubbed ICE 2.0, was also vetoed by Cooper in 2022.
Whatley remarked on Cooper’s vetoes as indicative of his responsibility for allowing many criminal illegal immigrants to remain in communities until recent ICE interventions.
A spokesperson for Cooper countered that sheriffs in Wake, Mecklenburg, and Durham counties all opposed the Republican bill, emphasizing that the former governor focused on prosecuting violent offenders and responding to resource concerns from local authorities.
The spokesperson highlighted that the vetoed policy could impose significant administrative burdens on prison and court staff. They also noted Cooper’s backing of a border bill that Trump labeled flawed.
Whatley, in his comments, criticized the sheriffs for not cooperating with requests regarding ICE detainees, asserting that there has been a lack of response from Democratic sheriffs regarding violent criminals.
The overarching message from Whatley emphasized that the primary duty of government should be to protect its citizens, a sentiment he believes President Trump embodies through his policies.
