CHARLOTTE — With changes to North Carolina’s new immigration law possible, the Mecklenburg County sheriff says he hopes to meet with state lawmakers and ICE. Sheriff Garry McFadden is traveling to Washington, D.C. on Sunday.
“We’re not going to block anything that ICE can do, because they’re the federal government, they can do what they need to do,” Sheriff McFadden said. “We’re asking for cooperation. We’re asking to have a seat at the table. We shouldn’t have two tables.”
McFadden says he hasn’t heard of any raids or targeted enforcement operations by ICE in Mecklenburg County but he expects them to happen eventually.
President Donald Trump’s border czar says ICE is starting its work focusing on known public safety threats.
“They know exactly who they are looking for,” Tom Homan said on CNN. “They know exactly where they will find them.”
McFadden says ICE still hasn’t picked up anyone from the jail following the passing of HB10 which requires sheriffs to honor detainers. MCSO says 67 detainers have been issued since the law went into effect.
North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall told Channel 9 last week the state may consider changes to the law to require sheriffs to notify ICE before someone with a detainer is released.
McFadden wants to meet with lawmakers before that happens.
“If they say, ‘Sheriff McFadden, come to Raleigh.’ I will pay my own way. I have all my expenses,” he said. “I just want a meeting to say, what should I expect from you? How should this better work?”
He’s heading to Washington on Sunday and hopes to meet with ICE.
VIDEO: Changes may be coming to HB10
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