Stein vetoes immigration crackdown bills, constitutional carry measure. Will he be overridden?

Fresh off an unannounced trip to France, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has vetoed his first measures since being elected.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signs a hurricane relief bill into law on March 19, 2025.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein late Friday afternoon vetoed three bills that would allow people to carry handguns without permits, compel sheriffs to collaborate with ICE and punish local governments that adopt sanctuary policies.

The vetoes followed an unannounced trip by the governor to France earlier this week. Upon his apparent return, he vetoed the bills, warning that they would make North Carolinians less safe.

“We can and should protect the right to bear arms without recklessly endangering law enforcement officers and our people,” Stein said of Senate Bill 50, the concealed carry bill that allows 18-year-olds to possess handguns without a permit.

Republicans face long odds of getting the gun bill to become law, given two House GOP members opposed the measure. But there is one immigration bill that could very well become law.

Democratic Rep. Carla Cunningham backed House Bill 318 and told Anderson Alerts this week that she won’t waver in her continued support, even if Stein vetoed the measure.

“My vote won't change," Cunningham said.