Georgia Republicans push for hard-line immigration with new bill
This weekend, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that it is currently conducting operations in Atlanta. Arrests were made in Brookhaven, Chamblee, Doraville, Lilburn and a church in Tucker. Monday, Georgia Republicans are following President Donald Trump’s hard-line stance on immigration, with the introduction of Senate Bill 21.
Georgia State Senator Blake Tillery, a Republican from Vidalia, drafted the bill. It waives sovereign immunity for law enforcement officials who fail to report individuals on detainers. Tillery also emphasizes the need for greater government accountability.
“The citizens of our state are demanding that if you’re going to commit a crime while you’re here, we need you to go home. We don’t need anybody else committing crimes against our citizens who are here illegally,” Tillery said.
Moreover, the bill allows the public to sue sheriffs or jailers if they fail to tell federal agents about undocumented immigrants in their jails.
State Representative Gabriel Sanchez, a Democrat from Smyrna, accuses the feds of trying to scare all immigrants.
“It makes me very, very sad to see such destruction in our communities, to be frank, because that’s what they’re doing,” Sanchez said. “They’re destroying our communities. And it’s not just immigrant communities, it’s our entire community.”
The Latin American Association (LAA) is distributing cards which list an individual’s basic rights if they are stopped by ICE. It reads as follows:
- You have the right to remain silent, and do not have to speak with immigration officers;
- ICE must show a court-ordered document to enter your home or search belongings;
- You have the right to an attorney;
- Talk to an attorney before signing anything;
- Always have your valid U.S. immigration documents, such as a work permit or green card, for identification.
“So all Senate Bill 21 says is that if a local government official doesn’t abide by Georgia immigration law, they stand responsible for the tragedies that may happen because they didn’t follow Georgia immigration law,” Tillery states. “I think that’s very much in line with where our citizens are.”
Last Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security recently eliminated a Biden Administration policy that limited where agents could make federal immigration arrests. ICE Can now arrest individuals near or inside sensitive locations, including houses of worship, schools and hospitals.
Also, The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are confirmed to be involved.
