Republicans are sharpening an immigration attack against former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper as the state’s Senate race moves deeper into a public-safety fight.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) accused Cooper in a new attack of enabling “sanctuary policies” after federal officials said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Somsack Khamhaeng, a Laotian national with convictions in Cabarrus County. The Department of Homeland Security identified Khamhaeng as an immigrant in the country illegally who had been convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon and drug possession.

The NRSC press release pointed to other alleged North Carolina court entries, including drug paraphernalia offenses, a noise ordinance violation and a felony probation violation. NRSC Regional Press Secretary Nick Puglia said Khamhaeng “should have been arrested and immediately deported,” arguing Cooper’s record put North Carolinians at risk.

The attack revives a long-running dispute over how closely North Carolina law enforcement should cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Cooper vetoed legislation in 2022 that would have required sheriffs to make greater efforts to hold jail inmates wanted by ICE, calling the bill unconstitutional and accusing Republicans of using fear to divide voters.

Republican lawmakers later overrode Cooper’s veto of House Bill 10, requiring county sheriffs to cooperate with ICE in certain cases. This year, lawmakers enacted the North Carolina Border Protection Act, expanding cooperation requirements for state law enforcement agencies.

The fight now lands in the Senate race between Cooper and former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, who are battling for the seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.

North Carolina has a new law aimed at keeping adversarial foreign interests away from farmland and military installations, turning national-security concerns into a real estate restriction across much of the state.

Gov. Josh Stein signed House Bill 133, the North Carolina Farmland and Military Protection Act, after lawmakers sent him the measure this month. The North Carolina General Assembly lists the bill as Session Law 2026-54, approved July 7 and chaptered July 8.

Under the law, a “prohibited foreign party” cannot purchase, acquire, lease or hold a direct interest in agricultural land or property within 50 miles of a military installation. The law says its purpose is to protect the state’s food supply and military sites from adversarial foreign government control.

The measure ties “adversarial foreign government” to countries or groups listed under federal International Traffic in Arms Regulations. It reaches certain entities or trusts organized under those governments, or substantially controlled by them.

Protected sites include Fort Bragg, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, New River Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and North Carolina National Guard facilities.

Foreign parties that already hold covered land before the law takes effect may keep it, but they cannot acquire more and must register with the secretary of state. Buyers of covered land will have to sign an affidavit saying they are not prohibited foreign parties, while violations can trigger forced divestiture.

Most of the law takes effect April 1, 2027. The North Carolina Real Estate Commission and Department of Military and Veterans Affairs must publish a public map of protected areas by then.

Supporters frame the law as food security and military protection. Critics raised concerns about whether the 50-mile radius could discourage legitimate foreign investment, Carolina Journal reported.

Gov. Josh Stein signed North Carolina’s long-delayed state budget into law this week, ending a more than 1,000-day stretch without a comprehensive spending plan and unlocking pay raises for teachers, state workers and law enforcement officers.

Stein signed Senate Bill 257 Tuesday, making the 2026 Appropriations Act state law after the House and Senate approved the compromise last week. The governor said the budget delivers the largest starting teacher pay raise in nearly 50 years, the largest overall teacher raise in 15 years, full Medicaid funding for the year and historic salary increases for public safety officers.

The $34 billion plan was written by Republican legislative leaders after months of budget disputes. WRAL reported the budget gives all state employees 3% raises, provides average 8% teacher raises, offers raises of up to 17% for some law enforcement officers and lowers the personal income tax rate from 3.99% to 3.49% next year.

The spending plan provides more than $700 million for Hurricane Helene recovery and more than $1 billion to fund the state’s Medicaid rebase. Other investments include community colleges, the Department of Motor Vehicles, child care, cybersecurity, clean drinking water, summer food programs and a new veterans’ home.

Stein still criticized major parts of the package. In his budget-signing statement, he said lawmakers slashed more than 1,000 state government positions and included provisions shifting power away from the executive branch. The Assembly reported the budget cuts hundreds of full-time-equivalent jobs and moves appointment authority for several boards and commissions away from the governor.

Republican leaders argue the budget delivers pay raises and tax relief without overspending. For Stein, signing it was a compromise to enact the state’s first comprehensive budget since 2023.