Roy Cooper’s Controversial Stance on Illegal Immigration

North Carolina’s Democratic Senate candidate, Roy Cooper, has faced scrutiny for his support of sanctuary policies during his time as governor, which aimed to protect undocumented immigrants. These policies reportedly cost taxpayers around $3.14 billion. Cooper vetoed multiple bills that would have required local law enforcement to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with estimates suggesting that nearly 500,000 undocumented immigrants lived in North Carolina while he was in office.

Between 2018 and 2019, 489 individuals with active ICE detainers were released from state custody. Alarmingly, some of these included people charged with serious crimes like sex offenses, kidnapping, and even homicide.

In one notable case, a man in Durham County, who had been arrested for robbery with a dangerous weapon, was released despite an ICE detainer. Just six months later, he allegedly killed his girlfriend after suspecting infidelity. After fleeing the state, he was apprehended in Louisiana and faced murder charges.

In another instance, a previously deported individual was released in Mecklenburg County after being arrested on severe charges, including first-degree rape and indecent liberties with a minor, due to local officials’ refusal to work with ICE.

In Asheville, the county sheriff also opted not to cooperate with ICE, allowing the release of an illegal immigrant charged with statutory sex offenses against an 11-year-old girl.

Despite attempts by state legislators to pass laws addressing these issues, Cooper vetoed three separate proposals aimed at enforcing collaboration with federal authorities. In one 2019 veto message, he criticized the legislation as merely a political tactic that would undermine local law enforcement.

Interestingly, a veto in 2019 was influenced by lobbying efforts from Siembra NC, a non-profit organization with ties to funding from George Soros. This group actively conducts workshops against ICE actions and has facilitated a hotline for communities to report ICE activities.

Cooper again vetoed similar measures in 2022 and 2024, although the latter was ultimately enacted due to bipartisan support. His rationale for these vetoes has led to a lack of endorsements from local law enforcement agencies during his current Senate campaign. In fact, reports indicate that no law enforcement organizations have backed Cooper, who is now heavily competing against Republican candidate Michael Whatley.

Polls suggest a tightening race in North Carolina. Recent data from Quantus Insights shows Cooper leading by just five points, with 48 percent support versus Whatley’s 43 percent.