The North Carolina legislature, dominated by Republicans, successfully overrode Governor Roy Cooper's veto on a bill that allocates additional funds for private school scholarship grants and mandates local sheriffs to comply with federal immigration agents' requests to detain certain inmates. The Senate and House both voted in favor of the bill, as Republicans hold veto-proof majorities in both chambers.
The legislation, now law, will provide approximately $463 million to the Opportunity Scholarship program. This funding aims to eliminate a waitlist of families eligible for grants to attend private or religious K-12 schools starting in the fall. The expansion of parental school choice has been hailed as historic by proponents, emphasizing the state's commitment to investing in students.
Last year, the General Assembly removed income caps for program recipients, resulting in increased demand. However, due to a lack of additional funds, many children were unable to access the aid until a deal was reached in September. The bill also includes a provision requiring North Carolina sheriffs to comply with ICE detainers, allowing for the temporary detention of inmates believed to be in the country illegally.
Opponents, including Governor Cooper and Democratic lawmakers, have raised concerns about the significant financial impact of the program on public schools and lack of accountability in the voucher system. They argue that the legislation prioritizes private school vouchers over hurricane relief efforts and raises issues of discrimination in funding religious schools.
The newly enacted law extends scholarship payments to students from all income levels, with wealthier families receiving smaller amounts. The bill's supporters argue that cooperation with ICE will enhance community safety by ensuring compliance with detainers. However, critics, including Hispanic advocacy groups, fear that the law will lead to the unfair targeting of immigrant communities by law enforcement.
The voucher funding is effective immediately, while formal cooperation with ICE agents by sheriffs will commence on December 1. The legislation has sparked debate and differing opinions on its impact on education, public safety, and immigrant communities in North Carolina.
