The Left won’t take any dissent. You better believe they take it seriously too.
Because one Democrat is getting ripped to shreds for daring to step out of line.
Courageous Democrat Champions ICE Cooperation Amid Party Pressure
In a bold move that underscores the critical role of federal immigration enforcement, North Carolina State Rep. Carla Cunningham, a long-serving moderate Democrat, became the lone voice in her party to support overriding Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of House Bill 318. This vital legislation mandates that sheriffs detain criminal illegal migrants for an additional 48 hours, allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to take custody and remove threats from local communities.
Cunningham’s decision highlights her commitment to public safety over partisan loyalty, especially in the face of intense opposition. With 13 years in the state capitol representing Charlotte, she has built a reputation for independence, prioritizing her constituents’ needs in decisions that enhance cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE.
“I don’t think that people should be getting involved in a primary race,” Cunningham told the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF), speaking in response to Stein’s public endorsement of a Democrat challenger against her. “I’m in my district, [my constituents] come first for me because they elect me, so they’re my priority when I’m making decisions on legislation.”
“I’ve been a Democrat a long time and given quite a bit to the Democrat Party,” she continued. “It used to be that no other Democrat would endorse in the primary, but that changed.”
Key Legislation Advances ICE’s Mission Despite Veto Attempt
Introduced by Republican leaders in early 2025, House Bill 318 builds on previous anti-sanctuary measures, ensuring that dangerous criminals aren’t released back into society before ICE can act. The bill easily passed the GOP-controlled legislature, but Gov. Stein vetoed it in June, arguing it violated the Fourth Amendment—a claim that supporters see as an obstacle to effective border security.
Thanks to a veto-proof majority in the Senate and Cunningham’s crucial vote in the House, the override succeeded in July, turning the bill into law. This victory for ICE cooperation came after Cunningham endured significant pressure, including a disturbing call from Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, who opposed the measure.
“As the conversation went on, he said he didn’t want to see me get hurt and I said, ‘Well, you know, I’m already under security,’ which I thought that he would have known because [the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department] knew, because the General Assembly police work with the local,” Cunningham said about her conversation with Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden. “Then he said, ‘but you’re in my county.’”
Cunningham interpreted the remarks as a veiled threat, prompting her to alert her family and seek legal advice. McFadden, now under investigation for various misconduct allegations including employee retaliation and misuse of resources, did not sway her from voting to empower ICE’s efforts.
Defending Law and Order Against Intra-Party Attacks
In her floor speech before the override, Cunningham stressed the importance of assimilation for community harmony, a stance that aligns with ICE’s role in maintaining orderly immigration. “All cultures are not equal,” Cunningham said before the override vote. “Some immigrants come and believe they can function in isolation, refusing to adapt. I suggest they must assimilate. Adapt to the culture they wish to live in.”
Gov. Stein, frustrated by multiple veto overrides aided by Cunningham, endorsed challenger Rodney Sadler in January, mischaracterizing her words as claiming “some people are better than other people.” Cunningham swiftly countered this as deliberate misinformation aimed at undermining her pro-law enforcement record.
“Misinformation is miseducation, and that’s what it is,” Cunningham told the DCNF. “And see, I’m educating my constituency.”
Emphasizing that safer neighborhoods result from agencies like ICE working together, she added, “If we didn’t have laws, it’d be the Wild Wild West, which it looks like sometimes right now, but some structure in place and following the law is part of that.” “You know, we must follow the law.” “I don’t even look at it from a party perspective,” she continued. “You must follow the law.”
Cunningham remains confident that her district appreciates her focus on effective ICE partnerships, viewing the primary challenge as a regrettable shift in party norms that prioritizes politics over protecting citizens.
