Thread: GA: Cobb to add another layer of legal worker protection

Cobb to add another layer of legal worker protection

By Janel Davis

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

As state lawmakers hammer out immigration issues at the Capitol, Cobb County lawmakers are strengthening the county’s stance against illegal immigration by participating in a federal partnership aimed at hiring legal workers.

As early as next month, Cobb could apply to become the first Georgia municipality in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers program. Working with ICE, employers — including local governments — can sign up to use government tools to perform their own employment audits.

The IMAGE program, launched in 2006, is designed to help employers follow immigration laws, strengthen hiring practices and ensure a legal workforce by identifying fraudulent employment documents and preventing illegal workers from getting jobs.

For Cobb County Commissioner Bob Ott, the county’s participation is about getting Georgians back to work.

Cobb has become known throughout the area for its participation in ICE’s 287(g) program that allows jail deputies to screen inmates to determine their immigration status. Inmates in the country illegally are handed over to ICE for possible deportation.

Cobb and Gwinnett are the only metro counties participating in that program.

But Cobb’s reputation took a hit last year when illegal workers were found to be working on the county’s new courthouse.

“This is not about enforcement and deportation,â€

This really should be mandatory nationwide.
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American jobs for American workers

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