Gold Dome Live is moving!
Our new spot will allow us to get the news to you even faster and make commenting easier. Please bookmark the new site and sign up for our rss feed:
http://blogs.ajc.com/gold-dome-live/
AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2009 > February > 24 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSenate passes bill cracking down on illegal immigration
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Local governments that don’t take steps to make sure they do not hire illegal immigrants or give them welfare benefits, could face a loss of state dollars, according to a bill that passed the state Senate Tuesday.
Senate Bill 20 also prohibits local governments from declaring themselves as sanctuary cities, and directs them to cooperate with federal agents in enforcing immigration laws.
Failure to do any of those requirements could result in withholding of state funding or state-administered federal funding.
Bill sponsor Chip Pearson (R-Dawsonville) said there are about 60 cities nationwide that have declared themselves sanctuary cities for illegal immigrants. There are none so far in Georgia and he hopes it will stay that way.
Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur) spoke against the bill, which passed 37 to 9.
There are no sanctuary cities in Georgia, Jones said, therefore the bill is unnecessary. It also has no enforcement mechanism, Jones said.
Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta), said that such legislation sends “increasingly hostile messages” to the state’s international community and will hurt the economy.
Senate Bill 20 adds some teeth to a Georgia law passed two years ago that cracked down on illegal immigration. Compliance with that law _ the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act _ has been lacking critics say.
So far, only a dozen municipalities and agencies statewide have signed up for a federal database that lets them check legal status of immigrants before giving benefits, even though Georgia law requires them to do so.
And many county and city governments took more than a year to sign up for the federal E-Verify program, which allows employers to check the legal status of new hires.
There are still many smaller cities that have not signed up for E-Verify, according to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution review of Department of Homeland Security documents.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Legislature
.JPG)
-1.JPG)
Services »
Comments
By pfft
February 24, 2009 3:00 PM | Link to this
“Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta), said that such legislation sends “increasingly hostile messages” to the state’s international community and will hurt the economy.”
i dont think so. it sends a message that you are welcome if you do it legally. like those of us who immigrated a family member, spent thousands of dollars and many months or years of time to do it right. why should some get to come in illegally and not only stay free, but get govt benifits that they have no rights to? do it right or get out!!!
and punish those that hire illegals and pay them slave wages to make a bigger profit for themselves.
By billybob
February 24, 2009 4:10 PM | Link to this
Can we sign the same type of bill for our “LEGAL” citizens who are able to work but choose not to… and reap our system????
NO MORE WELFARE * NO MORE WELFARE * NO MORE WELFARE