CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For the next few months, WCNC Charlotte's Verify team will focus on both the presidential race and the North Carolina governor’s race when it comes to which ads we verify.
We will look at ads by the campaigns themselves as well as ones put together by political action committees, also known as PACs.
This ad is paid for by Friends of Mark Robinson, which is the campaign for Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. He is running against North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat.
In the ad, we’re looking at several claims.
THE SOURCES
THE CLAIM
There are no sanctuary cities in North Carolina.
THE ANSWER
WHAT WE FOUND
A sanctuary city is a municipality that limits or denies its cooperation with the national government in enforcing immigration law.
According to a 2015 law, sanctuary cities were outlawed in North Carolina.
THE CLAIM:
One of Stein’s backers, Sheriff Quentin Miller, let an illegal immigrant out of jail even though ICE wanted him detained.
THE ANSWER:
WHAT WE FOUND:
For this claim, we are looking at whether this even happened and if sheriff’s departments have to comply with immigration and customs enforcement officers.
According to a press conference from Feb. 26, 2019, Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller announced he would no longer honor ICE detainer holds placed on inmates who federal immigration officials suspect are in the country illegally.
State law does not currently force local officials to comply with immigration and customs enforcement officers.
According to jail records, just a few months later Marvin Torres -- who was charged with child sex crimes -- was released from jail in Buncombe County after serving two years.
So we can verify that this claim is true. Miller said he would not honor ICE detainers; Torres was able to be released.
THE CLAIM:
"Instead of getting this criminal off the streets, Josh Stein gave (Miller) an award."
THE ANSWER:
WHAT WE FOUND:
According to Buncombe County in 2021, Stein did give Miller the Dogwood Award.
Stein awarded Miller for his work in processing older untested sexual assault kits and making it a priority. So while true, the award was not given for anything to do with Torres.
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.