Georgia’s Legislature on Thursday gave final approval to a bill that would require local jailers to check inmates’ immigration status and coordinate with federal immigration officials, rather than protect illegal immigrants.
The House voted 99-75 to accept amendments to House Bill 1105, which, with Republican support, now goes to the governor for his signature. The bill first passed the state Senate.
Under the measure, local law enforcement agencies would be at risk of losing state funding if they fail to coordinate with immigration authorities. Local officials could also face misdemeanor charges.
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The move gained attention after police accused a Venezuelan man of beating a nursing student to death on the University of Georgia campus.
State Rep. Jesse Petrea speaks in favor of HB 1105 at the Capitol in Atlanta on March 28, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Jose Ibarra was arrested last month on charges of murder and assault in the death of 22-year-old Laken Riley. Immigration authorities say Ibarra, 26, entered the country illegally in 2022. It is unclear whether he has applied for asylum.
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Democrats expressed concern that this would turn local law enforcement into immigration police and discourage communities from reporting crimes and cooperating. They also pointed to research showing that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than native-born Americans.
House Republican Rep. Jesse Petrea said on the floor Thursday that the bill only requires law enforcement to cooperate with immigration authorities when someone has committed a crime and is in the country illegally.
“I don’t think anyone in law enforcement thinks that’s too much to ask,” he said.
