The case of a Cuban man with an extensive arrest record in North Carolina has resurfaced this week, now serving as a political weapon in the Republicans' campaign against Roy Cooper, the Democratic candidate for the Senate in that state.
On Wednesday, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) released a statement leveraging the case of Esteban Vasallo Corteguera, a 48-year-old resident of Cullowhee, to criticize the immigration policies upheld by Cooper during his tenure as governor.
According to the NRSC, Corteguera was detained in Franklin on a drug-related charge and faces accusations of first-degree kidnapping, assault causing serious injury, possession with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, obstruction of justice, and sale of controlled substances, among other offenses.
Corteguera's legal troubles in North Carolina date back to at least 2019 and continued in subsequent years. The Sylva Herald reported his arrest in August 2019 for possession of prescription drugs and a Schedule II controlled substance. Records from The Macon County News indicate he was again arrested on November 3, 2020, for possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or distribute a Schedule II controlled substance, alongside other drug-related charges.
Republicans now argue that cases such as Corteguera's highlight the repercussions of Cooper’s vetoes on bills intended to compel local sheriffs to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Cooper vetoed such initiatives in 2019 and 2022, and once more in 2024, when a law mandating cooperation with ICE was eventually enacted after the General Assembly overrode his veto. Supporters contended these measures enhanced public safety, while Cooper previously argued that the legislation exploited immigration for political purposes, asserting that authorities already have the power to incarcerate and prosecute individuals accused of serious crimes, irrespective of their immigration status.
"Corteguera is simply another dangerous criminal, an illegal immigrant whom Roy Cooper fought to shield from deportation," stated Nick Puglia, regional press secretary for the NRSC, as part of the Republican electoral offensive.
The case has been included in the NRSC's "Roy Cooper's Worst of the Worst Wednesday," a series launched in May that uses instances of immigrants with criminal records to politically hold the former governor accountable for his decisions regarding immigration cooperation.
This attack comes as Cooper competes with Republican Michael Whatley for the Senate seat soon to be vacated by Thom Tillis in the upcoming November elections.
A Carolina Journal poll released this Thursday places Cooper at 49.2% among likely voters, compared to Whatley's 34.1%, with 12.3% still undecided. This survey, conducted by Harper Polling from September 13 to 15 among 608 likely voters, has a margin of error of ±3.97 percentage points.
Cubans with criminal backgrounds have previously been spotlighted in Republican campaigns focusing on immigration and border security, while ICE apprehensions of Cuban migrants have surged under the current administration of Donald Trump.
Impact of Esteban Vasallo Corteguera's Case on North Carolina Politics
How has Esteban Vasallo Corteguera's case been used in the political arena?
The National Republican Senatorial Committee has used Corteguera's criminal history to criticize Roy Cooper's immigration policies, portraying it as evidence of the negative consequences of Cooper's vetoes on immigration cooperation laws.
What charges has Corteguera faced in North Carolina?
Corteguera has been charged with first-degree kidnapping, assault causing serious injury, possession with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, obstruction of justice, and sale of controlled substances, among other offenses.
What is the current political context surrounding the Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley Senate race?
Roy Cooper, a Democrat, is running against Republican Michael Whatley for a Senate seat in North Carolina in the upcoming November elections, with Cooper currently leading in the polls.