Posted: March 15, 2016 - 11:21pm
By Morris News Service

ATLANTA — Cities and counties would be required to make annual reports to the state proving they are not sanctuaries for undocumented immigrants under legislation passed Tuesday by the House.

Senate Bill 269 introduced by Sen. Jesse Stone, R-Waynesboro, aims to ensure that Georgia has no “sanctuary cities,” said House sponsor Rep. Jesse Petrea, R-Savannah. Sanctuary cities enact official policy to protect aliens from federal enforcement of immigration laws and grant them government benefits despite federal prohibitions.

Petrea told his House colleagues that existing state law forbids Georgia cities from harboring undocumented immigrants but did not have a reporting requirement until SB 269.

Rep. Virgil Fludd, D-Tyrone, questioned why the reports were necessary.

“Are cities and counties required to report they are complying with other laws?” he asked.

Petrea replied, “I can’t speak to that.”

The bill passed 118-52. Before the vote, the House Judiciary Committee changed some provisions that were in the Senate version. Next, the Senate must either agree to the changes or negotiate the differences in a conference committee before the General Assembly adjourns March 24.

http://savannahnow.com/news/2016-03-...ed-immigrants#