Critics of the country’s immigration laws said that worsening conditions at the U.S. border are affecting North Carolina, and Wednesday drew a formal call for the governor’s office to take action.
Republicans in the N.C. House, in a letter to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, say Cooper should work with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to assign additional National Guardsmen with the Texas National Guard to secure the border; take action to lessen the state as a place to attract migrants; and require law enforcement cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“This is his chance to do the right thing,” said N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore, a Cleveland County Republican. “If not, we’ll be back in short session in a couple of months, and we’ll take action to mandate it.”
Moore, last year, visited guardsmen in Eagle Pass, Texas. He said Wednesday there are 125 assigned to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He said they were “under ineffectual federal authority,” which is why all 72 Republicans in the N.C. House signing the letterare requesting they be switched to assignment with Texas.