Legislation that would crack down on illegal immigrants would hurt Georgia’s economy, about two dozen people told a state Senate Committee.

Almost everyone who spoke Saturday in Savannah at the third hearing of a Democrat-led study panel opposed the bills, one of which has passed in the House.

The latter would let police check to see whether people they arrest are illegal immigrants. It also would require employers to use a federal database to check the status of their workers.

Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the Georgia Association of Latin American Elected Officials, said passing the measures could trigger an international tourism boycott.

If there is a boycott, Gonzalez said, noting that tourism is a linchpin of Savannah’s economy, “it’s going to kill jobs in Savannah. It’s going to kill jobs all across Georgia.â€