Thread: Georgia Immigration Bill Signed Into Law

Georgia Immigration Bill Signed Into Law
By Governor Nathan Deal

Posted: 05/13/11 12:34 PM ET


ATLANTA (Reuters) - Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed into law on Friday an immigration bill giving police authority to question suspects about their immigration status which is similar to a controversial measure passed in Arizona.

The law also requires many private employers to check the immigration status of newly hired workers on a federal database called E-Verify.

"Today is a dark day for Georgia," said Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, or Galeo.

"Our concern stems from the very serious economic repercussions that will be felt against our state on numerous fronts and the very serious civil and human rights abuses that will also likely follow..."

Opponents predicted costly and drawn-out litigation similar to what has happened following Arizona and Utah laws.

In the absence of federal immigration reform, several states have followed Arizona in enacting or considering immigration laws of their own.

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AdvertisementAdvertisementBut last month, a U.S. appeals court agreed with an earlier court ruling that blocked parts of Arizona's law from going into effect, including the provision that would require police to determine the immigration status of a person they have detained and suspect is in the country illegally.

Arizona's Republican Governor Jan Brewer said she would petition the U.S. Supreme Court to lift the injunction.

On Tuesday, a federal judge temporarily blocked a milder immigration law in Utah. The ruling by District Judge Clark Waddoups came on the same day the Utah law, passed earlier this year, went into effect.

During a speech in Atlanta on Saturday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, the former governor of Arizona, said state laws cracking down on immigration are "based on a falsity" that the federal effort is ineffective.

"The falsity is that there has been nothing done, that the border somehow is out of control. That is incorrect," she said.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/1 ... 61652.html

Let the lawsuits begin!

Great news! But yes, I agree with TakingBackSoCal, Let the lawsuits begin!!

Except this time we are not dealing with the 9th Circus.

Originally Posted by ICEstorm

Except this time we are not dealing with the 9th Circus.

AGAIN................DOJ is hammerin the heck out of US citizens

Obama slams Georgia bill on immigration
http://content.usatoday.com/communities ... =obnetwork

Georgia governor signs immigration bill into law
Associated Press
Updated 8h 35m ago |

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, calling it "a rather historic moment," on Friday signed a bill that cracks down on illegal immigration in the state by increasing some enforcement powers and requiring many employers to check the immigration status of new hires.

"While I believe immigration is an issue that can ideally be identified and addressed — and should be addressed— at the federal level, this legislation I believe is a responsible step forward in the absence of federal action," Deal told reporters who crowded elbow-to-elbow into his office for the signing.

The new law — the subject of heated debate in the Legislature — shares some similarities to a controversial law enacted last year in Arizona and another enacted this year in Utah. Part or all of those two laws have been blocked by federal judges, and opponents have said they'll sue to try to block Georgia's law.

It authorizes law enforcement officers to check the immigration status of certain suspects and to detain them if they are in the country illegally. It penalizes people who knowingly transport or harbor illegal immigrants and makes it a felony to present false documents or information when applying for a job.

A group of about 20 protesters, their arms linked to form a human chain, stood outside the governor's office after the signing chanting "Shame on you" and "We won't leave" before moving outside to join another several dozen on the sidewalk outside the Capitol for an impromptu rally. They are planning a town hall meeting Friday evening and are also pulling together plans for a summer of action, including a work stoppage on July 1, the day most parts of the law are set to take effect, and a march in Atlanta the following day.

"HB 87 was signed today, but our work continues," Lisa Adler of Amnesty International told the crowd gathered outside the Capitol.

A requirement for private employers to use a federal database called E-Verify to check the immigration status of new hires is set to be phased in, with all employers with more than 10 employees required to comply by July 2013.

Opponents of the measure say it could lead to racial profiling and could harm the state's economy, while supporters say it's necessary because illegal immigrants are a drain on Georgia's resources.

Rep. Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City, who joined the governor at the signing, said getting the bill through the Legislature was "one of the longest, toughest debates that I've ever been a part of."

"This is a good day for Georgia taxpayers and that is exactly who we're standing here on behalf of today," he said.

Deal said he doesn't believe convention organizers and individuals will boycott the state as a result of the law.

"I believe that most people understand that a state that is doing what is within its power to do to protect its citizens and its taxpayers should not be at any point punished," he said. "The costs of illegal immigration, in my opinion, far outweigh any of the dangers that may be threatened by boycotts."

Atlanta immigration lawyer Charles Kuck said he's working with several national groups to pull together a lawsuit challenging the Georgia law.

A federal judge blocked some provisions of Arizona's law last year after the federal government sued, and an appeals court upheld that decision last month. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said Monday the state plans to appeal directly to the U.S. Supreme Court.

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked a similar law enacted this year in Utah after civil liberties groups sued to keep it from entering into effect. That judge cited similarities to the most controversial parts of Arizona's law. A hearing is set for mid-July to determine whether an injunction will be issued or the law can go into effect.

www.usatoday.com

Added to Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-6297--0-0.html

Way to go Georgia! Good for you! Wake Up States! This is your moment, now is your time. Either grab your states rights back or kiss them good-bye forever.

[quote="jean"]Georgia governor signs immigration bill into law
Associated Press
Updated 8h 35m ago |

If Georgia can do it, then there's NO reason the rest of the States can't!! Let's hope we can "squeeze out" all illegal aliens one State at a time! I see it like this........If States start passing bills to enforce illegal invaders, they will start scattering onto other States, and once those States are flooded with them and experience the whole negative impact once they are there, then they will finally step up and follow suit ! It CAN happen, and HAS to happen to send a message to the illegals that they can no longer get away with raping our resources. It's time the USA join forces and stop playing around with this. Illegal aliens need to go back to their home Countries and WAIT IN LINE like the ones who applied LEGALLY! Illegal aliens try and fight tooth and nail in anyway they can to cheat the legal system and is up to us to not give them a choice!