http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/ ... mbull.html

Raft of bills target illegals

By BRIAN FEAGANS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/11/07
State Sen. John Douglas is itching to do something about illegal immigration.

But the Republican from Social Circle has a problem. Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. — not Atlanta — control the guts of U.S. immigration policy.

"We can only put Band-Aids on a gaping wound that the federal government could close," Douglas said.

Yet less than a year after passing one the nation's toughest state crackdowns on illegal immigration, Douglas and his colleagues are at it again. They've introduced at least a dozen measures that are either fully or partially aimed at illegal immigrants so far in this year's General Assembly.

In essence, they're emptying out the Band-Aid box.

Some are the see-through kind, clearly meant to put a patch on a broken immigration system. Others are more opaque public safety measures that don't mention illegal immigrants but would affect them most.

One bill would require Georgians to prove they are U.S. citizens when registering to vote. Several proposals target the document fraud that can give illegal immigrants access to Georgia roads and health clinics. Another measure would make driving without a license a felony on the third offense.

Opinion polls consistently show immigration as a top concern of Georgia voters, said Matt Towery, a former Republican state representative who now owns an electronic media and polling company called InsiderAdvantage.

"There's nothing worse for a politician to see than the people are interested in an issue and not have a piece of legislation sitting there to deal with it," Towery said. "I've been there."

Latino advocates warn the measures are damaging Georgia's reputation among both legal and illegal immigrants who view them as part of a backlash against Georgia's fast-growing Hispanic population. Several of the bills face opposition from outside the immigration arena, too.

But Towery does expect a couple to pass the General Assembly this session. Bills that would make it harder for illegal immigrants to drive appear to have the most early support.

Senate Bill 15, sponsored by Sen. John Wiles (R-Marietta), breezed through the Senate last month. It would ratchet up the penalties for driving without a license.

First-time offenders would face at least two days in jail. A second offense would require at least 10 days in jail. And a third violation would be a felony punishable by one to five years in prison.

SB 15 also amends last year's omnibus immigration bill so as to force authorities to determine the immigration status of any foreign nationals jailed for driving without a license.