Immigration bill advances

Local governments that don’t check to make sure they are not hiring illegal immigrants could lose state money for building roads, under legislation that passed the Senate on Wednesday.

House Bill 2 would deny road money to a city or county that does not sign up to use federal databases to make sure new workers are not illegal immigrants. It also requires local governments to make sure people who receive public benefits are in the U.S. legally.

Three years ago, Georgia lawmakers approved a far-reaching crackdown on illegal immigration, but critics say it lacked teeth. HB 2 adds those teeth by withholding money for road improvements if local governments don’t comply with the law.

“It’s unfortunate that we have to take steps to get compliance with the original law,” said Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock), who sponsored the original bill.

The legislation also would require jailers across the state to check the legal status of inmates and report to federal immigration officers any inmates who are in the U.S. illegally.

“That’s just a burden I’m not sure we are equipped to handle,” said Sen. George Hooks (D-Americus).

HB 2 passed 30-17 and must pass the House again or go to a conference committee.

Rogers said he expects the proposal will go to a conference committee and that it will be changed to require that jailers first ask the nationality of all inmates they book. Then they would only check the legal status of those charged with a felony, a DUI or a misdemeanor of an “aggravated” nature, according to a new draft of the bill.

Georgia’s 3-year-old crackdown on illegal immigration requires governments and public contractors to use E-Verify, a federal program that checks whether people can work in the United States. The law also requires governments to sign up for another federal database to check whether people are eligible for welfare and other public benefits.