Immigration statute headed south?
By Ben Smith | Tuesday, December 11, 2007, 06:50 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Lorraine Green says she won’t back down on an ordinance barring illegal immigrants from working on county projects.

But Green and her commission colleagues might not have a choice.

At a hearing last week, U.S. District Judge Clarence Cooper said the ordinance attempts to regulate immigration, something only the federal government can do, by punishing county contractors who hire illegal immigrants.

Cooper wasn’t issuing a final ruling on the matter, but his comments suggested the ordinance could be in trouble.

Green, who crafted the proposal, thinks the judge’s concerns could be satisfied “with just a few tweaks.â€