A coalition of immigration groups holds a rally outside the Georgia State Capitol to protest HB 1105. This bill would require local law enforcement to take over the duties of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents under a federal program known as 287g. Matthew Pearson/WABE Hide caption
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A coalition of immigration groups is holding a rally outside the Georgia state Capitol to protest HB 1105, a bill that would allow local law enforcement agencies to take over the duties of immigration and customs enforcement agents as part of a federal program known as 287g.
Matthew Pearson/WABE
Republican lawmakers in the U.S. state of Georgia are advancing a bill that would require local and state police to identify, arrest and detain undocumented immigrants – a power normally reserved for federal immigration authorities.
The proposal gained traction after a Venezuelan migrant was arrested in connection with the murder of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student in Athens, Georgia. Immigrant rights activists in the state say the bill demonizes immigrants, pointing to research showing that undocumented immigrants commit fewer crimes than others.
But Republican Rep. Jesse Petrea, who introduced the bill, said the law would strengthen public safety.
“We have the biggest border crisis in the history of our country,” he said. “In Georgia, the people of this state, the people we represent, expect us to do something. And I think this is a good way to do just that.”
The proposal is similar to Senate Bill 4, the Texas measure that empowers state and local police to arrest people crossing the southern border illegally and allows local judges to deport migrants from the country. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently put the Texas law on hold as a lawsuit by the Biden administration and immigrant advocacy groups is underway.
Georgia State Rep. Jesse Petrea (R-Savannah) introduces HB 1105, a bill that would allow local and state law enforcement to assume some of the responsibilities of federal immigration enforcement, on Thursday, February 29, 2024. Matthew Pearson/WABE Hide caption
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Georgia Republican Rep. Jesse Petrea of Savannah is introducing HB 1105 on Thursday, February 29, 2024, a bill that would require local and state law enforcement agencies to take over some of the responsibilities of federal immigration enforcement.
Matthew Pearson/WABE
The Georgia bill would require law enforcement to check immigration status during encounters and work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain those arrested. Jails would also be required to check with immigration authorities to see if people in their custody are in the country illegally.
Opponents argue that the bill would lead to ethnic profiling.
“This bill will force people to live in fear and will burden local governments and police officers by expanding their powers without providing a single cent of state funds,” said Democratic Rep. Pedro Marin, the longest-serving Latino politician in the legislature.
Sheriffs in the state of Georgia say they already comply with federal government requests for citizenship information and expressed concern that the proposal would overburden their departments.
“This is not about increasing the safety of the citizens of Georgia,” said Jerry Gonzalez, CEO of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials. “This is about taking advantage of an opportunistic situation to attack the immigrant and Latino community across the board. This is really divisive and it's a dangerous policy that they're pursuing.”
Immigrant rights activists in Georgia say the bill is motivated by the upcoming presidential election, and several advocacy groups have held events condemning the bill.
Ben Williams, chairman of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Cobb County, compared the bill to Jim Crow legislation.
“Beating up immigrants today, and beating up the descendants of slaves in the past, is a tried and tested and unfortunately true method of dividing people,” he said.
But Republicans in Georgia insist they are serious about addressing the immigration issue.
“Making political decisions in the face of unspeakable tragedy is not politics,” said Republican Rep. Houston Gaines, whose district includes Athens, where Laken Riley was killed. “It means doing the right thing to make sure something like this never happens again.”
The bill has already passed the Georgia House of Representatives, but must still pass the Senate before it can land on the desk of Republican Governor Brian Kemp.
