Georgia immigration law: Latino officials and civil rights groups raise concerns about rhetoric

Migrant rights activists condemn rhetoric

Amid the heated debate over immigration, concerns are growing for Georgia's immigrant community. Critics say the political rhetoric of some Republican lawmakers is having a chilling effect.

ATLANTA – Savannah Republican state Rep. Jesse Petrea supports House Bill 1105, saying immigration legislation simply reaffirms current state law.

“Any alien who is in this country illegally must be reported to ICE. That is the state's current law, but often that doesn't happen,” Petrea explained.

Critics say bills like HB 1105, which would allow authorities to arrest people suspected of being in the country illegally and require local police officers to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, would do more harm than good.

Critics of the bill HB 1105 call it “stereotyping”

The Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials expressed concern in a written statement Monday: “The current list of proposals … would violate constitutional freedoms, ignore the needs of local communities, and perpetuate harmful stereotypes about Latinos and immigrants.”

Civil rights groups across Georgia are raising similar concerns over what they see as divisive rhetoric about the country's immigration policies and their impact on immigrants.

“I would describe it as an explosion of attacks and threats, an attempt to make our immigrant brothers and sisters uncomfortable,” said Dr. Ben Williams, president of Cobb SCLC.

DIEGO IBARRA, BROTHER OF MURDER SUSPECT IN LAKEN RILEY'S DEATH ON UGA CAMPUS, APPEARS IN COURT

Following the death of Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley, whose suspected killer was in the country illegally, Republican lawmakers at the state and federal levels are pushing for stricter immigration laws.

“I believe that if you don't follow the law, justice will prevail,” Williams said. “But to accuse an entire group of people based on the actions of a few is completely inappropriate.”

Open letter to Governor Kemp on immigration

The Cobb SCLC and the Cobb Immigrant Alliance accuse Governor Brian Kemp, who has criticized the Biden administration's immigration policies, of harassing, stoking fear and inciting hatred in Georgia's immigrant community.

In an open letter to Kemp published on Monday, the group stated:

“In response to the tragic murder of UGA student Laken Riley, you politicized this tragedy on the radio… while spreading fear and hatred toward the immigrant community, which is the worst form of political opportunism and bullying.”

FOX 5 contacted the governor's office on Monday. A spokesperson said there was no comment.