President Trump criticized North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper in a tweet on Saturday for his veto of a bill that would have required local sheriffs to cooperate with ICE agents who have detainers for illegal aliens incarcerated in county jails.

“Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina, a Democrat, vetoed a bill on Wednesday that would have required sheriffs in the state to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents seeking to obtain custody of illegal aliens for whom detainers have been issued,” as Breitbart News reported:

House Bill 370, “An Act to Require Compliance With Immigration Detainers and Immigration Warrants” — mandating that sheriffs cooperate with ICE — passed the North Carolina State Senate in June and was brought to Cooper for his signature after it easily passed in the North Carolina House of Representatives on Tuesday. Republicans have a majority in both houses of the state’s legislature.

“If the administrator or other person in charge of the facility is unable to determine if [a newly incarcerated]  prisoner is a legal resident or citizen of the United States or its territories, the administrator or other person in charge of the facility holding the prisoner, where possible, prisoner shall make a query of Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the United States Department of Homeland Security,” the bill states.

“When any person charged with a criminal offense is confined for any period in a county jail, local confinement facility, district confinement facility, satellite jail, or work release unit, and the administrator or other person in charge of the facility has been notified that Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the United States Department of Homeland Security has issued a detainer and administrative warrant that reasonably appears to be for the person in custody, the following shall apply,” the bill continues:

(1) Prior to the prisoner’s release, and after receipt of the detainer and administrative warrant … by the administrator or other person in charge of the facility, the prisoner shall be taken without unnecessary delay before a State judicial official who shall be provided with the detainer and administrative warrant.

(2) The judicial official shall issue an order directing the prisoner be held in custody if the prisoner appearing before the judicial official is the same person subject to the detainer and administrative warrant.

(3) Unless continued custody of the prisoner is required by other legal process, a prisoner held pursuant to an order issued under this subsection shall be released upon the first of the following conditions: a. The passage of 48 hours from receipt of the detainer and administrative warrant. b. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the United States Department of Homeland Security takes custody of the prisoner. c. The detainer is rescinded by Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the United States Department of Homeland Security.

The issue is now front and center in the September 10 special election in North Carolina’s Ninth Congressional District where Republican Dan Bishop faces Democrat Dan McCready.

Shortly after Cooper’s veto, Bishop blasted McCready for being a member of the “sanctuary trifecta” that includes Gov. Cooper and Mecklenberg County Sheriff Gary McFadden.

“Bishop called on McCready to break with his party and live up to his campaign slogan by supporting a veto override that would prevent dangerous criminal illegals from being released on the public,” the Laurinburg Exchange reported:

Sen. Bishop renewed his call for Mecklenburg Sheriff Garry McFadden’s resignation and again condemned his catch and release policy for criminal illegal immigrants that has already seen a slew of dangerous offenders — at least 22 according to ICE — back on Charlotte streets rather than in federal custody.

McFadden’s refusal to cooperate with ICE detainers has allowed illegal immigrants to be released whose alleged crimes include: first-degree rape, indecent liberties with a minor, assault on a female, communicating threats, assault by strangulation, first degree kidnapping, assault on a female, domestic violence protective order violations, and robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury. Federal officials warn this policy could make Charlotte a haven for illegal immigration.

President Trump has announced he plans to hold a rally in North Carolina’s Ninth Congressional District. Though the date of the rally has not yet been announced, it is expected to take place before the September 10 special election.