Reform Watch: Georgia Proposes Arizona-Style Immigration Laws
Georgia has proposed new immigration laws that would follow Arizona's controversial lead. The State of Georgia's proposed immigration laws, like Arizona's, would directly conflict with federal jurisdiction over immigration and throw more fire onto the flame for the Obama Administration to accelerate reform.
Much akin to Arizona's law, Georgia's proposed bill would not just allow, but require Georgia law enforcement to investigate people they reasonably suspect of being in the country illegally. Furthermore, Georgia law enforcement would be granted power to seize and arrest illegal immigrants and transfer them to federal custody.
The immigration bill was proposed by State Rep. Matt Ramsey. "We are doing what we can as a state to address the [illegal immigration] problem," Ramsey said, "and continue to hope that the federal government at some point is going to step up and get serious about addressing the myriad problems that have been created by their failure to adequately secure our borders."
In addition to the power to seize and arrest based on reasonable suspicion, Rep. Ramsey's bill also proposes to punish the encouragement of illegal immigrants into Georgia and the transport and concealment of illegal immigrants. Furthermore, private businesses with more than five employees will be required to use E-Verify, a federal program which is currently used in federal employment practices.
The federal government argues the position that Arizona's law, and therefore Georgia's proposal, is unconstitutional because it would burden federal law enforcement agencies. Federal law enforcement, namely the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), do not have the resources to retain and board state transferred illegal immigrants. Federal officials successfully sued to stop key provisions of Arizona's immigration law, including a provision that mandates state police to check the immigration status of suspects.
A poll of Georgia voters conducted by the Georgia Newspaper Alliance last July reveals most Georgia voters want an immigration law similar to the one Arizona passed last year. Results show 68% of the poll takers would support this bill, 24% of poll takers disapproved and the remaining 8% were undecided.
Much akin to Arizona's law, Georgia's proposed bill would not just allow, but require Georgia law enforcement to investigate people they reasonably suspect of being in the country illegally. Furthermore, Georgia law enforcement would be granted power to seize and arrest illegal immigrants and transfer them to federal custody.
The immigration bill was proposed by State Rep. Matt Ramsey. "We are doing what we can as a state to address the [illegal immigration] problem," Ramsey said, "and continue to hope that the federal government at some point is going to step up and get serious about addressing the myriad problems that have been created by their failure to adequately secure our borders."
In addition to the power to seize and arrest based on reasonable suspicion, Rep. Ramsey's bill also proposes to punish the encouragement of illegal immigrants into Georgia and the transport and concealment of illegal immigrants. Furthermore, private businesses with more than five employees will be required to use E-Verify, a federal program which is currently used in federal employment practices.
The federal government argues the position that Arizona's law, and therefore Georgia's proposal, is unconstitutional because it would burden federal law enforcement agencies. Federal law enforcement, namely the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), do not have the resources to retain and board state transferred illegal immigrants. Federal officials successfully sued to stop key provisions of Arizona's immigration law, including a provision that mandates state police to check the immigration status of suspects.
A poll of Georgia voters conducted by the Georgia Newspaper Alliance last July reveals most Georgia voters want an immigration law similar to the one Arizona passed last year. Results show 68% of the poll takers would support this bill, 24% of poll takers disapproved and the remaining 8% were undecided.