While Mexico border is far from NC, House Speaker wants governor to do more

House Speaker Tim Moore is running for Congress, but he said that wasn’t the reason he called a press conference on Wednesday to talk about immigration.

"This isn't for politics today. This is this is to talk about the policy because it’s a real issue," Moore said.

Moore called on Gov. Roy Cooper to direct the 125 North Carolina National Guard troops currently stationed at the border to work with the Texas Guard, instead of the federal border patrol.

He said while North Carolina isn’t on the border, many of the people crossing the border right now may find their way to the Tar Heel state. He’s also worried about a surge in fentanyl and other drugs entering the state.

"When I talk to sheriffs around the state – and I've talked to a lot – they say anywhere between 90 and 95 percent of the drugs, not just marijuana, all these things are coming across the southern border because it's so easy," Moore said.

"This kind of campaign strategy really speaks to the base voters. And that’s who they are trying to appeal and to motivate and to energize for November's general election," he said.

Cooper referred to that in his response. He said:

"A bipartisan U.S. Senate is close to the strongest border security law in a generation but Donald Trump is telling Republicans to stop because a tough border law hurts his campaign. If Republican legislators really wanted a strong border they would release a statement supporting this legislation instead of bowing to Trump and supporting violating the Constitution and rule of law."

Moore, who, again, is running for Congress, declined to say whether he's spoken to his fellow North Carolinians in the Congressional delegation about that vote.

"I’ll comment on what Congress does next January," he said, "when I’m there."