A bill being discussed in the North Carolina Senate would cut off education and transportation funding from the state to local governments that have Sanctuary City policies.

Chapel Hill and Carrboro have been sanctuary cities for several years, meaning that local police do not turn undocumented residents over to federal authorities, if the resident has no history of violence or felony behavior.

A bill was passed through the North Carolina General Assembly during the legislative session last year that banned Sanctuary City policies but there was no enforcement mechanism or punishment included in the legislation.

Now Senator Buck Newton, who represents Johnston, Nash and Wilson Counties, has filed Senate Bill 868. Newton is one of the primary sponsors of the bill. Newton is also running for Attorney General.

Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger said the bill would prevent another local initiative – distributing community identification cards.

“We have over 600 individuals [who] have come out to get a community ID working with our police department and El Centro [Hispano],” Hemminger said. “People want to have some sort of identification. If they can’t get a driver’s license because of all that, they want a form of identification.

“It’s helpful; you need it for certain things.”

As far as what reaction the town would have if this bill passed, Hemminger said, “We haven’t had that discussion yet, so I’m hopeful that our town would stand up for its rights.”

“I don’t understand this whole mode by the legislature [that] claims to be from the bent of local control should have local control, and yet they stomp all over that,” Hemminger said. “And then they fuss when the feds do it to them.” Hemminger was referencing the General Assembly’s claims of government overreach coming form Washington, D.C. and President Barack Obama over regulations conflicting with North Carolina’s controversial House Bill 2.

Hemminger admitted it was a “frustrating” time.

“We embrace being open for business, open for people, open for all of this,” Hemminger said. “We want to be this open, inclusive community, and that’s part of who we are.

“And it’s just really, really frustrating to see the state go down the path of being frightened of what’s coming.”

Senate Bill 868 currently awaits discussion in the Senate Judiciary II committee.

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