The Republican-controlled legislature in the US state of Georgia has introduced a bill to enforce immigration laws, while Republican lawmakers across the country continue to call for stricter measures following the murder of nursing student Laken Riley last month.
The state House of Representatives gave final approval to HB 1105 by a vote of 99-75 on Thursday night, the last day of the Georgia legislative session, after the Senate passed the bill last week by a vote of 34-19. The bill now lands on the desk of Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who has previously advocated for stricter immigration policies. Kemp's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNN.
The passage of the bill comes as the national debate over immigration is heating up. After Jose Antonio Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, was charged with the murder of Riley, who was found dead on the University of Georgia campus, Republicans used the incident to call on the Biden administration to crack down on illegal crossings at the southern border.
A supporter holds a sign with a photo of Laken Riley before Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Rome, Ga., Saturday, March 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) – Mike Stewart/AP
HB 1105 would require local and state law enforcement agencies to check the immigration status of anyone over the age of 18 who has been arrested, is in custody, or who an “official has reasonable grounds to believe” has committed a crime.
Under this measure, local law enforcement agencies that do not cooperate with immigration authorities could lose their state funding, and local officials who do not cooperate with immigration authorities could face misdemeanor charges.
Republicans argue that stricter border and immigration policies will protect Americans, often drawing a link between crime and illegal immigrants – even though studies have found no connection.
“While Joe Biden and his liberal allies refuse to protect our citizens and secure the southern border, Republicans in the Georgia Senate are passing legislation to protect our state from criminal illegal immigrants,” Georgia Senate Republicans said in a post on X following the Senate vote last week.
Meanwhile, Democrats at the state level have raised concerns that the bill is discriminatory and could harm immigrant communities.
“This bill will lead to ethnic profiling in our immigrant communities and will not make Georgia citizens safer,” Democratic Senator Nabilah Islam Parkes said in a post on X, adding that the measure was “xenophobic.”
The measure complements previous efforts by the Republican-controlled legislature to combat immigration. Last week, senators passed HB301, a bill aimed at stripping certain state and federal funding from the state's sanctuary cities and counties.
Other states have also passed stricter immigration laws. A controversial bill in Texas would allow state and local police to arrest people they suspect of illegally crossing the southern border. On Tuesday, a federal appeals court said the law would remain blocked while its supporters battle multiple legal challenges.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Laken-Riley Act earlier this month, which requires the detention of all migrants who commit burglary or theft.
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