Eric Johnson: Schools should collect citizenship data

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Republican gubernatorial candidate Eric Johnson is taking the wraps off a tough new immigration proposal that would require elementary and secondary schools to collect citizenship data on enrolling students.

Johnson said Thursday he would also require public hospitals to find out which patients are in the country legally.

Johnson says he wouldn't deny education to any K-12 students or medical care to those in an emergency room. But he argues it would allow the state to figure out the costs of providing services to illegal immigrants. And he says the reporting could deter illegal immigrants from coming to Georgia in the first place.

Johnson says if the Congress won't work to secure the nation's border as governor he will.