North Carolina law requires immigration checks and federal cooperation

The listed state law enforcement agencies must make immigration agreements with ICE, check immigration status, and cooperate with federal immigration officials. These duties cover the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Adult Correction, the State Highway Patrol, and the State Bureau of Investigation, including people in their custody or under their supervision. Officers doing immigration enforcement under an agreement must receive ICE training and work under ICE supervision. Employees must query ICE when they cannot determine a person's status. They must provide ICE with requested information when they determine the person is not a U.S. citizen or legal resident. Cooperation is required to the fullest extent allowed by law. This section took effect when the law became law. The agencies had to report their agreements and policies by August 1, 2025.

DHHS must take steps to stop covered state-funded benefits for noncitizens found to be living in the United States without legal permission and review eligibility rules. The rules cover listed state-funded programs administered by or through a contract with DHHS, including Medicaid and rental or housing assistance. These duties apply only to the extent federal law allows. DHHS must develop a way to check noncitizen applicants' immigration status before benefits begin. Covered programs include health care, housing, and child care assistance. The definition excludes benefits or services that help eligible recipients access food or meals. DHHS had to report its steps and eligibility plan by January 15, 2026.

The Department of Commerce, the Housing Finance Agency, and local housing authorities must take steps to stop covered housing aid for noncitizens found to be living in the United States without legal permission and review eligibility rules. The rules cover listed publicly funded housing programs administered by or through a contract with the Department of Commerce, the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, and local housing authorities. These duties apply only to the extent federal law allows. The agencies and authorities must develop a way to check noncitizen applicants' immigration status before benefits begin. Covered programs include rental assistance, housing vouchers, and homebuyer assistance. The agencies and authorities had to report their steps and eligibility plans by January 15, 2026.

The Division of Employment Security must verify applicants' legal authorization to reside in the United States before making a first unemployment benefit payment. The duty applies to all applicants for unemployment benefits. The verification requirement applies to the extent federal law allows. The Division had to adopt and implement its verification policy by January 15, 2026.

Cities and counties that break state rules against sanctuary policies waive immunity from certain injury or property damage lawsuits if an unauthorized immigrant commits a crime against a person or property within their limits. UNC campuses must not restrict federal immigration enforcement or block related information gathering or sharing. These rules cover North Carolina cities and counties, and constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina. The city or county must both violate the relevant state rule and have the specified crime occur within its limits for immunity to be waived. The waiver applies even if it has not bought insurance. UNC constituent institutions must not limit federal immigration enforcement to less than federal law allows. They must not prevent law enforcement officials or agencies from gathering immigration-status information or sharing it with federal law enforcement. These provisions took effect when the law became law.