More than 200 organizations sent a letter to North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Wednesday asking him to veto a controversial immigration and education spending bill.
House Bill 10 passed in the General Assembly last week. It would set aside another $248 million for private school vouchers, and it mandates sheriffs comply with federal immigration detainers.
Sil Ganzó is the executive director of OurBRIDGE for Kids, a group that works with immigrant and newcomer families. She says the bill would increase the fear these families already feel.
"Living in fear impacts children, impacts families, impacts their future and their contributions to the community, their ability to participate fully as members of our community," she said.
Other Charlotte-based organizations that signed this letter include Carolina Migrant Network, Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, Charlotte Pride and the Latin American Coalition.
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden released a statement last week saying he strongly opposes the bill, and that while he must comply with the law, he will not stop working with immigrant communities.
Cooper is expected to veto the bill. However, Republicans could override the veto with a supermajority.
