GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 78
Short Title: Prohibit LEO w/ICE Churches/Schools/Hospitals. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Price, Butler, Harrison, and Cervania (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
February 11, 2025
*H78-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT L AW ENFORCEMENT AGENC IES AND OFFICERS FROM 2
PARTICIPATING IN IMM IGRATION ENFORCEMENT IN NORTH CAROLINA 3
PLACES OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL S, 4
AND HOSPITALS. 5
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6
SECTION 1. Chapter 17F of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new 7
section to read: 8
"ยง 17F-16. Prohibit law enforcement agencies and officers from participating in 9
immigration enforcement in places of religious worship, elementary and 10
secondary schools, and hospitals. 11
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no criminal justice agency, as 12
defined by G.S. 17C-2, or sheriff's office shall assist United States Immigration and Customs 13
Enforcement in the (i) apprehension or arrest of persons for alleged or suspected immigration 14
violations or (ii) service of warrants for removal from the United States in any of the following 15
locations: 16
(1) A place of religious worship, including a church, chapel, meetinghouse, 17
synagogue, temple, longhouse, or mosque, or other building that is regularly 18
used, and clearly identifiable, as a place for religious worship. 19
(2) A public or nonpublic school providing elementary or secondary instruction. 20
(3) A hospital, as defined by G.S. 131E-76(3). 21
(b) Any current or future memorandum, agreement, or contract made between a criminal 22
justice agency or sheriff's office and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement shall 23
be void to the extent that the performance of the memorandum, agreement, or contract would 24
violate subsection (a) of this section. 25
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no criminal justice officer, as 26
defined by G.S. 17C-2, or justice officer, as defined by G.S. 17E-2, shall assist United States 27
Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the (i) apprehension or arrest of persons for alleged or 28
suspected immigration violations or (ii) service of warrants for removal from the United States 29
in any of the locations referenced in subsection (a) of this section. 30
(d) A willful violation of subsection (c) of this section may be used as grounds for the 31
suspension, revocation, or denial of the certification of a criminal justice officer under Chapter 32
17C of the General Statutes or a justice officer under Chapter 17E of the General Statutes. 33 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 78-First Edition
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit criminal justice agencies, 1
sheriffs' offices, criminal justice officers, or justice officers from enforcing the laws of this State 2
to the extent authorized by law." 3
SECTION 2. The Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission 4
and the Sheriffs' Education and Training Standards Commission shall promulgate rules 5
consistent with G.S. 17F-16, as created by Section 1 of this act. 6
SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to assistance 7
provided on or after that date. 8