Immigration

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 1064: Civil Rights Helpline.

This bill establishes a 24-hour toll-free helpline and online portal within the North Carolina Department of Justice to assist individuals harmed by federal troop deployments, federal law enforcement actions, or immigration enforcement in the state. The Attorney General is required to maintain a secure database of complaints, investigate reported violations, and publish annual public reports detailing the number of reports, arrest statistics, and observed patterns of misconduct while keeping individual identities confidential. To ensure accessibility, the helpline must offer voicemail, translation services, and disability accommodations, along with resources connecting victims to legal, social, and school support programs. The legislation also mandates that the Attorney General hold at least one public hearing each year to present aggregate data and findings from the annual reports. Implementation of the helpline must begin within 60 days of the bill's effective date, with an initial report due one year after launch, and the program is funded with $3 million starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes a helpline to investigate civil rights violations by law enforcement, enhancing accountability and protecting rights.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill establishes a helpline for victims of immigration actions and provides legal/translation resources, directly supporting immigrant rights and services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement Tags Civil Liberties

Track

signed · North Carolina · House Jun 26, 2025

HB 251: Various Disaster Recovery Reforms.

HB 251 prohibits North Carolina state agencies from denying disaster recovery assistance (like grants) based on a person's political affiliation or political speech. It applies to all applicants for state disaster aid, including U.S. citizens, nationals, and qualified aliens, and sets penalties of a Class I felony for violations. The bill also defines "temporary housing" (such as trailers or tents) and adds criminal penalties for stealing such housing during declared emergencies. These changes aim to ensure state disaster aid is distributed fairly and protect emergency housing resources.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents discrimination in disaster housing aid (e.g., grants for temporary housing), aligning with housing access protections per bill's anti-discrimination clause.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill explicitly includes 'qualified aliens' in disaster aid eligibility and prohibits denial based on political affiliation, protecting immigrant access to state services.85% confidence

Tags Emergency Management

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 421: Prison Reform Omnibus.

SB 421, the "Fair and Rehabilitative Prison Labor Act," replaces outdated North Carolina prison labor laws to ensure incarcerated individuals receive fair pay, vocational training, and protections. It requires prison labor programs to pay at least $5 per hour (or state minimum wage for PIECP-certified programs), prioritize job skills for post-release employment, and prohibit using prison labor to displace migrant or seasonal agricultural workers. The bill mandates annual transparency reports on wages, hours worked, and job impacts in agriculture, and requires labor market assessments before agricultural contracts. These changes directly affect incarcerated people in North Carolina prisons, prison labor programs, and agricultural businesses that contract prison labor.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates fair prison labor pay, vocational training for reentry, and prohibits displacing agricultural workers - directly advancing rehabilitation and reducing recidivism per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits prison labor from displacing migrant agricultural workers, protecting immigrant laborers' employment in agriculture.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · North Carolina · House Feb 11, 2025

HB 78: Prohibit Law Enforcement Officers with ICE in Churches/Schools/Hospitals.

HB 78 prohibits North Carolina law enforcement agencies and officers from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with immigration enforcement activities - such as arrests or warrant service - in places of religious worship (churches, synagogues, etc.), elementary/secondary schools, and hospitals. The bill makes any agreements with ICE that violate this prohibition void and could lead to suspension or loss of law enforcement certification for officers who ignore the ban. It explicitly states that state law enforcement may still enforce North Carolina’s laws as usual, but not for immigration enforcement in these protected locations. The bill applies to all current and future law enforcement agreements involving ICE.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits law enforcement from aiding ICE in religious, educational, and medical facilities, protecting civil rights and reducing over-policing in sensitive spaces per criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBars ICE enforcement in hospitals, preventing deterrence of healthcare access for immigrant patients, aligning with improved patient access indicators.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits NC law enforcement from aiding ICE in churches, schools, hospitals, limiting federal immigration enforcement cooperation to protect immigrant safety in sensitive locations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Feb 11, 2025

HB 80: Prohibit Law Enforcement Officers with ICE at Farm/Construction Sites.

HB 80 prohibits North Carolina law enforcement agencies and officers from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with immigration enforcement at farms or construction sites. The bill specifically bans police and sheriffs from helping ICE arrest individuals or serve removal warrants on agricultural land (including farming, livestock processing) or on permitted construction sites with valid permits. It also voids any existing agreements between local law enforcement and ICE that would violate this rule, and officers who violate it risk losing their certification. The law does not prevent local police from enforcing state laws but explicitly separates immigration enforcement from agricultural and construction site operations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts law enforcement from assisting ICE at farms/construction sites, limiting potential civil rights violations and aligning with criminal justice reform by reducing overreach in immigration enforcement.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits NC law enforcement from assisting ICE at farms/construction sites, limiting state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement to protect migrant workers.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits ICE enforcement at farm/construction sites (where migrant workers are employed), protecting their right to work without fear of deportation or workplace raids.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Enforcement Sanctuary Policies Professional Licensing

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 10, 2025

HB 319: Hispanic Grassroots/Funds.

HB 319 appropriates $500,000 from the state General Fund to Hispanic Grassroots, a nonprofit organization serving North Carolina's Hispanic community. The funds will support its existing education outreach programs, including scholarship assistance for private school choices, small business development, healthcare education, and civics classes to help residents navigate government services. This one-time grant, effective July 1, 2025, directly benefits Hispanic Grassroots' current services for Hispanic residents across the state. The bill does not create new programs but provides targeted funding for established community initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $500k from General Fund to fund nonprofit's public service programs (education, healthcare, small business), increasing state funding for community services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $500k for nonprofit's education programs including scholarship assistance and civics classes, directly funding educational access for Hispanic community.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly funds healthcare education within Hispanic Grassroots' outreach programs, directly advancing community health literacy and access to services.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationFunds Hispanic community services including healthcare education and civics classes to navigate government services, directly supporting immigrant integration and access to state services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 667: Reduce Barriers to College Completion.

HB 667 would allow certain children of H-1B or L-1 visa holders to pay in-state tuition at North Carolina public universities. Specifically, it applies to students whose parents are lawfully present in the U.S. (not citizens) with valid H-1B/L-1 visas, and who either hold an H-4 visa or were previously classified as in-state residents for tuition while continuously enrolled in college. The bill amends tuition law to permit this status for students meeting these criteria, effective for the 2025-2026 academic year. This policy directly affects immigrant students who would otherwise pay higher out-of-state rates, aiming to support North Carolina's goal of increasing postsecondary degree attainment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access by allowing eligible immigrant students to pay in-state tuition, directly reducing financial barriers to college completion.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationAllows children of H-1B/L-1 visa holders to pay in-state tuition, expanding educational access for immigrant families under immigration status criteria.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education DACA & Dreamers

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 977: Defend NC.

HB 977, titled "Defend NC," primarily prohibits North Carolina law enforcement agencies and officers from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with immigration enforcement actions, including arrests or removal warrants. This directly affects sheriffs' offices, police departments, and criminal justice officers statewide by banning cooperation with ICE under state law. The bill also includes non-binding provisions expressing intent to protect Medicaid eligibility, study federal funding losses in education, and explore replacing NIH research funds, but these do not create immediate policy changes. The core legislative action is the ban on law enforcement collaboration with ICE, effective upon enactment.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits NC law enforcement from assisting ICE, limiting state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 691: In-State Tuition Equity.

SB 691 would allow certain non-citizens, including those without lawful immigration status, to pay in-state tuition at UNC constituent institutions and North Carolina community colleges. To qualify, students must have graduated from a North Carolina high school or earned a high school equivalency diploma in the state, attended North Carolina schools for two consecutive years before high school, and (if undocumented) submit an affidavit about applying for legal status. The bill requires colleges to use a centralized process for residency determination and ensures all applicant information remains confidential. It takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to the 2025-2026 academic year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access for qualifying non-citizens by enabling in-state tuition rates, directly advancing educational access policies.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationAllows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition, advancing immigrant integration and access to higher education services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education DACA & Dreamers

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 12, 2025

HB 371: DMV Materials in Additional Languages.

HB 371 requires North Carolina's Division of Motor Vehicles to provide driver's license handbooks and written tests in Khmer and any language spoken by at least 2% of the state's population. This directly affects applicants who speak these languages by offering materials in their preferred language during the licensing process. The key provision mandates the DMV to add these language options to its standard services, moving beyond English-only requirements. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRequires DMV materials in languages spoken by immigrants (2%+ of population), directly aiding immigrant access to state services and integration.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs

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