A state panel aimed at cracking down on government officials who fail to enforce Georgia's immigration-related laws voted unanimously Friday to investigate allegations that Vidalia is harboring illegal immigrants.
The complaint against the "Sweet Onion City" is the first the Immigration Enforcement Review Board has decided to probe since state political leaders appointed the panel's seven members in September.
In his complaint, Michael Dale Smith of Twin City accuses the city in rural Toombs County of giving illegal immigrants safe harbor by allowing them to live, travel and work within the city limits. The city has denied those allegations.
State law prohibits government agencies from enacting "sanctuary" policies that bar officials from cooperating with federal authorities in reporting immigration status information.
Lawmakers created the board last year when they passed Georgia's sweeping anti-illegal immigration law. The board has the power to investigate complaints filed against city, county and state officials; hold hearings; subpoena documents; and hand out punishment. That punishment could include loss of state funding for government agencies and fines of up to $5,000 for officials who "knowingly" violate the state's immigration-related laws.
The panel's chairman, Ben Vinson, said he sent Smith a letter, asking him to supply evidence backing up his allegations. Vinson said Smith told him the board could get the evidence it needs from city police files.
Several board members expressed skepticism about Smith's allegations.
"All he has done is made an allegation, and when we have asked for substantive information back from him, he says: 'You go find it,'" said board member and Dallas, Ga., Mayor Boyd Austin. "I don't like the fact that we would go chasing rabbits on allegations."
Other board members said they felt obligated to ask Smith and Vidalia officials more questions before deciding if the complaint should be dismissed or if a public hearing should be held.
"No one is going to admit to us that they are having a sanctuary city," board member Phil Kent said. "That is not going to happen. And we are empowered to investigate. That is why we are here."
The board appointed a three-member committee to look further into the complaint and report its findings. If the board decides to hold a hearing on the matter, the soonest it could do that would be in September, Vinson said. Both Smith and city officials would be permitted to present evidence at such a hearing, Vinson said.
Also Friday, the board voted unanimously to dismiss a complaint that anti-illegal immigration activist D.A. King filed against Atlanta. That complaint — the first one received by the board — became moot after the City Council repealed an ordinance at the heart of the dispute, Vinson said.
King's complaint said the Atlanta ordinance violated state law by allowing people to use Mexican matricula consular ID cards in city government transactions. Georgia law says city officials may not accept such ID cards when people apply for public benefits.
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