"Georgia Immigration" - (Google) News Sweep - 4/18/'06 11:30 AM
"Georgia Immigration" - (Google) News Sweep - 4/18/'06 11:30 AM
4/18/'06 - The following article(s) were found in the media. Several stories are provided ... with links to the original sources ... for your convenience:
- Georgia to cut migrants' benefits (BBC)
- Immigration and Fairness (Access North Georgia)
- Reaction Mixed on Georgia's New Immigration Law (WTOC-TV)
- 17 illegal immigrants got in-state tuition at Gainesville State (Gainesville Times)
- Zamarripa's influence global (Atlanta Business Chronicle)
- Immigration bill inked (Gwinett Daily Post)
- Georgia governor signs sweeping immigration law (Reuters)
- Perdue signs controversial bill (AP)
- Perdue signs bill on illegals (AJC)
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4918826.stm
 Supporters cheered when they heard the bill had been signed |
When the law takes effect next year, employers hiring illegal workers will face sanctions and police will have to check detainees' legal status.
Governor Sonny Perdue, who signed the bill, said it was intended to "ensure Georgia's hospitality was not abused".
Supporters and critics say it is the toughest immigration measure in the US.
"I want to make this clear: we are not, Georgia's government is not, and this bill is not anti-immigrant," Gov Sunny Perdue said.
"It is our responsibility to ensure that our famous Georgia hospitality is not abused, that our taxpayers are not taken advantage of and that our citizens are protected."
'Difficult time'
The law, which will take effect in July 2007, will also impose prison terms for human trafficking and limit the services commercial companies can provide to illegal immigrants.
BBC correspondents say the move has come at a difficult time in the US as there have been country-wide protests over a federal immigration law currently being debated in the Senate.
"It is a punitive bill," said the president of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Sara Gonzalez.
"This is a very complicated issue, and I don't see any good coming out of this."
There are an estimated 11 million undocumented workers in the US.----------------------------------
http://www.accessnorthga.com/articles/afullstory.asp?ID=103057
Immigration and FairnessMartha Zoller 4/18/06
Over the last 10 years of taking calls on the radio at my home station, WDUN AM 550, in Gainesville, Georgia, immigration reform has been the hottest topic. The position has never been to stop immigration as the news media has been trying to portray it today; it has been to have legal immigration. In my book, Indivisible: Uniting Values for a Divided America, I start the chapter on immigration with a quote from Congressman Nathan Deal (R-Georgia) from about 8 years ago. He said, "Either enforce the immigration laws or change them. The "wink and a nod" policy will not work." The words were true when he said them and they are true today.
There is probably nothing that can be done to fairly address the issue of an illegal immigrant and his family residing in the United States for many years. Many of these families are what the INS used to call "mixed status" families.
They are usually comprised of a legal adult, one or more adult illegal immigrants and children that are a combination of United States citizens and non-citizens. People always recoil at retroactive laws. That's why the amnesty in 1986 didn't work. It attempted to change what had happened in the past. But common sense tells you that you have to stop the flow before you can fix the problem. I live near one of the largest lakes on the east coast, Lake Lanier, so I like boat analogies. If you have a whole in the hull of a boat, you have to plug is first before you do anything else. We must secure our borders first, then give law enforcement the tools they need to do their job regarding illegal immigrants who are violent criminals and then we can deal with the guy that just wants to make a living for his family and their won't be a one size fits all solution for that. It didn't work in 1986 and it won't work now.
There is a fundamental fairness issue also. Everyday, I meet people who waited 5-15 years to enter this country legally. Many who went to another country first, in order to get the proper documents to enter the United States. There are also millions of families in the United States who are separated from their families because of our immigration laws. Immigrants that cross our borders and illegally immigrate here because they have a geographic advantage should not be given special laws just for them. It didn't work in 1986 and it won't work now.
A few years ago, I met a woman who is married to an Egyptian. All during her marriage, her mother-in-law would visit regularly. She obtained visas and always returned home on time. Since October, 2002, she has not been allowed to visit her children in the United States. She was told by the US Consular in Egypt, "it appears that it is her intent to immigrate to the U. S." and there have not been any "life changing situations" to warrant granting a U.S. Visitation Visa. So her history of coming and going on time means nothing and we are considering a "path to citizenship" allowing millions who don't respect our laws to get on that path. It didn't work in 1986 and it won't work now.
I realize that immigration from the Middle East is more difficult since 9/11 and it should be more difficult. But where is the common sense. This woman was allowed to visit after 9/11, it was not until late 2003 that her visas were denied. "Mama" is known to us through her travel record and has known family members in the United States that have provided for her consistently when she visits. The Consulate was concerned she would try to overstay her visa and then become a drain on our economy because she would qualify for Medicare at some point. Where is the common sense and logic in that conclusion?
Since 2003, this mother has missed a child's wedding, the birth of her first grandchild. Neither of these events qualified as a "life changing situation" in the opinion of the U. S. Consulate in Egypt. My grandmother used to tell me not to be "pennywise and pound foolish." We allow millions of immigrants to come across our border and have instructed our immigration enforcement not to be concerned with deportation of illegal immigrants unless they are violent criminals, but we are going to bring the full force of the United States government down on a 61 year old woman who wants to visit her family in the United States. This government can make the life of one woman who has not broken the law and who has respected our immigration laws and gotten numerous legal visas miserable and yet we say that we cannot do anything about the millions of illegal immigrants who cross our borders and ignore our laws. Where is the fairness?
Currently, this mother and grandmother has been able to get a visa to visit Canada and the family in the United States has gone to great expense to visit her regularly during her time on this continent. This family has crossed back and forth across the Canadian border so often in the last few months that the Canadian government has asked if they intend to immigrate to Canada permanently. Maybe we can learn something from the Canadians.
When I talked to the family recently, they said this, "we really feel like those who are breaking the laws are being rewarded for their unlawfulness and we are being punished for following the laws. We are a law abiding family. I am a natural-born U. S. citizen; my husband is a U. S. permanent resident, we are U. S. business owners and U. S. taxpayers!! It's time someone in our government used common sense instead of what will appease the (illegal) masses at the moment."
Are we a nation of laws or not? Are we going to enforce the laws and if not do we have the courage to change them? Will we again stand up and say that citizenship in the great republic means something?
If you want a "no nonsense" proposal on what to do about illegal immigration, pick up my book, Indivisible: Uniting Values for a Divided America and tell me what you think. Martha Zoller is a talk show host and political analyst.
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http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4783317&nav=0qq6
04/18/06
Reaction Mixed on Georgia's New Immigration Law
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| Gov. Sonny Perdue signs the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act into law. | ||
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It's been one of the biggest issues of Georgia's legislative session, and now, it's a law. Yesterday, Gov. Sonny Perdue signed the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act, which gives the state some of the toughest immigration laws in the country.
The law will make it harder for illegal immigrants to get access to social services and will punish companies that hire undocumented workers.
Supporters say it's overdue. "We've got to be able to provide social services to our own people first," said Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Dist. 159). "By providing social services to citizens who are here illegally, we're taking money away from our citizens who are paying their taxes."
Opponents to the new rules say it makes the entire state look bad. Mariela Orellana-Nemanic is with the Coalition of Latin American Social Services. She says the law will scare away international corporations thinking of moving here. "It says we're closed-minded, not tolerant. It's bad for the economy."
Even though most of the provisions in the new law won't take effect until next year, it's already charging emotions on booth sides of the issue.
"I'm disgusted," said Maria Bowden with the Coalition of Latin American Social Services. "This law is unhuman. The human rights of these people, humans, are being violated."
"What part of illegal don't you understand?" asked Rep. Carter. "We want people who are here illegally to become residents and to become taxpaying citizens just like everyone else is."
Yesterday's signing happened in the shadow of an anti-immigration rally in Atlanta. Dozens of pro-immigration rallies happened all across the country earlier this month.
Reported by: Chris Cowperthwaite, ccowperthwaite@wtoc.com
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http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/stories/20060418/localnews/87824.shtml
17 illegal immigrants got in-state tuition at Gainesville State
By HARRIS BLACKWOOD
The Times
 Why "would we not want them to continue their education? They want to attend college to prepare for productive careers, and they hold out hope of gaining legal status." --Gainesville State president Martha Nesbitt |
The president of Gainesville State College said Monday that 17 illegal immigrants, all graduates of area high schools, were allowed to pay in-state tuition during the current school year.
Martha Nesbitt issued the written statement in response to a request by The Times for data on the number of illegal immigrants paying the lower tuition rate for Georgia residents.
"The only students who qualify for consideration (for in-state tuition) are those who are Georgia residents, have graduated from a Georgia high school and offer strong academic promise," wrote Nesbitt.
She defended the practice as being legal and approved by the University System Board of Regents. She said most of the students were from Hall County.
Her comments came on the heels of a letter by Sen. Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, accusing the college of violating federal law.
"Federal law is quite clear on the issue of taxpayer-assisted tuition for illegal aliens," wrote Rogers in a letter to The Times. "Title 8, U.S.C. section 1621, requires that illegal aliens may not receive any post-secondary education benefits, unless an individually state specifically grants in-state tuition."
Rogers, who is not related to Rep. Carl Rogers of Gainesville, was the sponsor of the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act, the sweeping state immigration reform bill that Gov. Sonny Perdue signed into law Monday.
He wrote that it was "illogical" to invest taxpayer dollars in a person who is not legally allowed to work upon graduation.
But in her e-mail, Nesbitt questioned why "would we not want them to continue their education."
"They want to attend college to prepare for productive careers, and they hold out hope of gaining legal status," she wrote.
Nesbitt hopes to talk with local lawmakers about the matter, saying she found it strange that members of Hall's delegation chose to take the case directly to the media.
She was referring to state Rep. James Mills published comments that funds to renovate the student center were in jeopardy during the budget process. Mills, R-Chestnut Mountain, said this was due in part to a March 6 forum on immigration that Rogers attended.
In an e-mail to The Times, Rogers wrote that he felt the forum was "loaded against me," but he wasn't upset.
"I attended the event at Gainesville, despite the 90-minute drive during the middle of a session week, and had no problem with it," he wrote.
Nesbitt dismissed talk about the forum as "an attempt to control academic freedom on a college campus." She said the community has spoken eloquently in defending the school.
Contact: hblackwood@gainesvilletimes.com, (770) 718-3423
Originally published Tuesday, April 18, 2006--------------------------------
http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2006/04/17/story5.html?page=2
Zamarripa's influence global
Atlanta Business Chronicle - April 14, 2006 Staff Writer
Byron E. SmallGlobal building: Senator Sam Zamarripa is establishing global partnerships with China through his nonprofit organization, the Georgia China Alliance.
View Larger
When state Sen. Sam Zamarripa won his seat in the Georgia General Assembly in 2002, he went in with an open mind and a commitment to volunteerism.
A successful businessman and managing partner in Heritage Capital Advisors LLC , Zamarripa, D-Atlanta, didn't want to be a lifelong politician, but he did want to bring his own experiences as a businessman, volunteer and Mexican-American to the state's political mix.
On April 12, Zamarripa announced his plans to step down and focus his efforts on his business.
Looking back on his term, Zamarripa views his public service as timely. What became Senate Bill 529, laws to address illegal immigrants working in the state, incited Hispanic rallies 40,000 strong, sit-ins at the Capital and divisive debate statewide.
Among the rhetoric, Zamarripa's voice routinely rose to the surface with a mix of unrelenting conviction and preference for moderate discussion. Despite their legal status, immigrants should be treated with humanity and given social services, he said. Immigration is a federal, not a state issue, he said. Hard work should be respected, he added.
The words come from his own history. Zamarripa's father was of Mexican descent, but also a decorated patriot and career military man; he's now buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
"I felt very lucky to be a part of the discussion," Zamarripa said. "I think one of the most dangerous things about the immigration debate is that it became extreme on all sides, and I have never felt that was constructive, especially when it relates to taking away from the humanity of people that come here to work. I wanted to moderate that."
Zamarripa now says he wants to concentrate on building partnerships between China and Georgia businesses.
"I'm a globalist," Zamarripa said. "I'm a person that is very interested in the competitive environment that we live in and I want my state and my country to be a winner. So I am going to work on things that make us a winner."
To accomplish that goal, Zamarripa plans to work closely with the Georgia China Alliance (GCA), a nonprofit group he helped create in 2003. He wants to build relationships with Chinese investors and companies. He wants to take trips to China to meet with companies and look for opportunities to bring international business to Atlanta, or take Georgia businesses to China.
"The Chinese aren't going to take all the currency in the world and aggregate it in China," Zamarripa said. "Just like any other business group, they are going to diversify their holdings and spread their distribution and manufacturing globally so they can survive the ups and downs of the economy."
This month, Zamarripa and the GCA will court Wusheng Chen, president of the Chinese companies Zhejiang Dongzheng Electrical Co.
Ltd. and General Protecht Group, with a reception at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Chen was named one of China's top 10 entrepreneurs in 2005 and Zamarripa is working with him to bring new investment into the state.
Zamarripa also plans to work closely with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) in its efforts to build on the state's trade relationships with China. Following a scouting trip earlier this year, Georgia is considering opening an office in China, said Bert Brantley, spokesman for the GDEcD.
"It's a tremendous market for us," Brantley said. "All of our major Georgia companies -- UPS, Coke, Home Depot -- are investing more in China, and we think that its big enough that we need to explore great opportunities for the state to draw investments."
Brantley also said that help from business people like Zamarripa is critical to Georgia's success in luring foreign investors.
"We have to rely on our business community to tell us what their experiences are and how we can help," Brantley said.
Reach Spears at sspears@bizjournals.com.
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http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=1&url_article_id=14042&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2
Immigration bill inked
04/18/2006
By Dave Williams
Staff Writer
dave.williams@gwinnettdailypost.com
ATLANTA — Gov. Sonny Perdue on Monday signed what is being billed as the toughest anti-illegal immigration law in the country.
Flanked by seven Republican state lawmakers, the GOP governor scrawled his name across the bill inside his Capitol office just two hours after a flag-waving crowd of about 200 rallied outside in support of the measure.
"Georgia is not and this bill is not anti-immigrant,'' Perdue said. "(But) we cannot tolerate activity that distracts us from embracing those who came here legally. ... We unashamedly support following our state and federal laws.''
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, cleared the Legislature late last month on the votes of Republicans and conservative Democrats.
It will require Georgia adults seeking many taxpayer-funded services to prove that they are either U.S. citizens or in this country legally.
Businesses seeking government contracts will have to verify the immigration status of their employees, while other companies will be discouraged from hiring illegals through tax penalties.
"Contract workers'' who cannot provide a taxpayer identification number or Social Security number will have a 6 percent income tax deducted from their paychecks.
The legislation also includes provisions increasing penalties for human trafficking, requiring law enforcement agencies to verify the legal status of suspects arrested for felonies or DUIs and clamping down on "notarios," people who falsely claim to be lawyers with expertise in obtaining documents illegal immigrants need to get a job.
The loudest and longest round of applause during Monday's noontime rally came when D.A. King of Marietta, who organized the event, announced that Perdue was going to sign the bill later in the day.
"Thank you, Governor Perdue,'' said King, founder of the Dustin Inman Society, an anti-illegal immigrant group.
While expressing their appreciation to the governor and General Assembly, King and other speakers called on Congress to get busy and enact federal immigration-reform legislation.
The U.S. House passed a tough bill several months ago heavy on enforcement.
Legislation now pending in the Senate leans more toward finding a solution for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants already in the country.
King said the bill that came out of the Senate Judiciary Committee last month is unacceptable because it would give many illegal workers now living here a pathway to American citizenship.
"We had blanket amnesty for 3 million illegal immigrants in '86 ... and have proven beyond any doubt that it does not stop illegal immigration,'' he said. "We cannot have another amnesty.''
Rep. Melvin Everson, R-Snellville, who introduced a bill in the House to cut off public benefits to illegal immigrants, said an influx of illegal workers is draining social services budgets.
He cited as an example the additional teachers Gwinnett County schools have been forced to hire to teach English to newly arrived Hispanic children.
"The last time I checked, America was the land of English, not Spanish,'' he told the crowd during Monday's rally.
But Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, said the new law will hurt the state economically in the long run because it will hurt industries that rely on illegal-immigrant labor.
He listed farming, poultry, textiles and construction as prime examples.
"It's sending the wrong message to immigrants considering coming to Georgia, that they're not wanted or welcome,'' he said.
Gonzalez said the law also will damage Georgia's efforts to attract the headquarters of the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas to Atlanta.
But Perdue said he met with several Latin American consul generals about the bill while it was making its way through the Legislature, and they understood that Georgia needed to address illegal immigration in the absence of action from Congress.
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http://www.maconareaonline.com/news.asp?id=13871
| Georgia governor signs sweeping immigration law |
| By: Karen Jacobs |
| Tues Apr 18, 2006 8:45 AM ET ATLANTA ( Reuters) - The state of Georgia approved a sweeping measure on Monday to crack down on illegal immigrants, while in a sign of the national division on the issue, Arizona's governor vetoed a bill that would have allowed undocumented workers to be prosecuted as trespassers. The moves come as the federal government and states consider how to deal with an estimated 11 million to 12 million undocumented workers while immigrants, many of whom are Hispanic, are displaying their political power through mass demonstrations in cities across the United States. The Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act, signed into law by Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue, denies many state services paid for by taxpayers to people who are in the United States illegally. It also forces contractors doing business with the state to verify the legal status of new workers, and requires police to notify immigration officials if people charged with crimes are illegal immigrants. "It's our responsibility to ensure that our famous Georgia hospitality is not abused, that our taxpayers are not taken advantage of and that our citizens are protected," Perdue said before signing the law. But Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, backed by key law enforcement officials, vetoed the bill in her state, the nation's hot spot for illegal crossing of the roughly 2,000-mile-long U.S.-Mexico border, saying there were no resources to pay police and prosecutors for an increased burden. Under the proposal, first-time offenders would have faced a misdemeanor charge and up to six months in jail. A second offense would have been a felony, punishable by up to one year in jail. Arizona officials also were concerned about its effect in the community. "There is a real concern that crimes will go unreported by immigrants for fear that they would be turned into federal agents," said Wendy Balazik, a spokeswoman for the 20,000-member International Association of Chiefs of Police. "Law enforcement would lose valuable information." But state Rep. Russell Pearce said the governor needs to take a stand to slow the flow into Arizona. "It is a federal responsibility, it is everyone's responsibility," said Pearce, a Republican behind several bills targeting immigrants. "When are we going to wake up and start enforcing the law?" GEORGIA BILL Other provisions of the Georgia law prohibit employers from claiming a tax deduction for wages of $600 or more paid to undocumented workers, impose prison terms for human trafficking and limit the services commercial companies can provide to illegal immigrants. Hundreds of thousands of people have demonstrated at rallies in major U.S. cities in recent weeks demanding rights for illegal immigrants in the United States. "It's a punitive bill," said Sara Gonzalez, president and chief executive of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "This is a very complicated issue, and I don't see any good coming out of this." Outside the Georgia Capitol, a few demonstrators cheered when word spread that the immigration bill had been signed. The measure had garnered overwhelming support in both houses of Georgia's Republican-controlled Legislature. "If you are not a U.S. citizen, you should not receive a U.S. benefit," said Steve Bray, a Georgia resident who was waving a U.S. flag and said he supports legal immigration. |
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http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/041806/met_77913.shtml
Perdue signs controversial bill
ATLANTA - Gov. Sonny Perdue on Monday signed a sweeping immigration bill that supporters and critics say will make Georgia's laws among the toughest in the nation.
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"I want to make this clear: We are not, Georgia's government is not, and this bill is not anti-immigrant," Mr. Perdue said at a signing ceremony. "We simply believe that everyone who lives in our state needs to abide by our laws."
The Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act will verify that adults seeking many state-administered benefits are in the country legally. It sanctions employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens and mandates that companies with state contracts check the immigration status of their employees.
The law will also require that police check the immigration status of people they arrest to see whether they face deportation orders.
The measure is believed to be the first comprehensive immigration package to make it through a statehouse this session, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Many of the new law's provisions will not take effect until July 1, 2007.
Tisha Tallman, the Southeast regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said she was studying potential legal challenges to the bill. She said she was "incredibly disappointed" that Mr. Perdue signed the bill, rather than waiting for the federal government to act.
The bill drew protests at Georgia's Capitol and prompted a daylong work stoppage by thousands of immigrants.
Advocates for Hispanics in the Augusta area also expressed disappointment.
Anibal Ibarra, the chief financial officer of the Asociacion Latina de Servicios del CSRA, said he doubted the new state law would "be enforced on the employer's side." He said federal and local officials will continue to target the employees, not the business owners who hire illegal workers.
Immigrants nationwide will take part in another protest against federal immigration bills May 1, Mr. Ibarra said. In most Latin American countries, workers are honored on May 1 in much the same way American workers are honored on Labor Day, he said. Instead of working, immigrants in the United States are being urged to stay home from the job and from school and avoid making any purchases to show their impact on local economies, he said.
If sweeping immigration reform continues, Mr. Ibarra said immigrants in larger cities might stop their peaceful protests and become violent.
"There is fear among Latino leadership they could spread violence," he said.
The Georgia law will not affect emergency medical care and education for children in kindergarten through 12th grade, which federal courts have said must be provided regardless of immigration status. Exemptions were also added for some other services, including prenatal care and the treatment of communicable diseases.
The move to tighten rules in Georgia comes as lawmakers in Washington wrestle with competing proposals to shore up controls at the border, create a guest-worker program and enable a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the United States.
Outside the Georgia Capitol on Monday, a few hundred supporters of the legislation roared their applause when word came that Mr. Perdue was planning to sign the proposal.
The crowd waved American flags and cheered as state Rep. Melvin Everson, one of the Georgia House's two black Republicans, denounced illegal immigration as a cancer and proclaimed: "The last time I checked, America was the land of English - not Spanish."
They hollered as Republican state Sen. Chip Rogers, the bill's author, called it "the strongest single bill in America dealing with illegal immigration - bar none."
But perhaps the greatest applause came when Catherine Davis, a black Republican running for Congress against U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney, was introduced.
If Ms. Davis is elected, she vowed, "I'd tell all the illegal aliens to go home."
At the bill signing Monday, Mr. Rogers said he has been approached by state lawmakers from South Carolina and Colorado who were interested in crafting similar proposals for their states, and he said he hoped to introduce legislation next year tackling document fraud, which he said undermines efforts to enforce immigration law.
He said that the bill signed Monday is not a cureall but said the state was acting where the federal government refused to.
Staff Writer Kate Lewis and Associated Press writer Greg Bluestein contributed to this article.
Ric Feld/associated press Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (center) signs the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act as Sen. Chip Rogers (left), the author of the bill in the Senate, looks on. [CAPTION]
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http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/stories/0417immigrationbill.html?imw=Y
Perdue signs bill on illegals
Crackdown law faces challenges
By JIM THARPE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/18/06
Gov. Sonny Perdue signed into law on Monday a far-reaching attempt to confront illegal immigration in Georgia, but the plan goes on the books facing the threat of a legal challenge and possible congressional action that could render some of its provisions moot.
Perdue put his signature on the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act, which targets illegal immigrants and those who employ them.
 RIC FELD / Associated Press | ||
| Watching Gov. Sonny Perdue sign Senate Bill 529 Monday at the Capitol are its House sponsor, Rep. John Lunsford (right) and Sen. Brian Kemp. Sen. Chip Rogers was the bill's Senate sponsor. | ||
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"We recognize that immigration is ultimately a national issue that begs for a national solution," Perdue said. "But it's our responsibility to ensure that our famous Georgia hospitality is not abused, that our taxpayers are not taken advantage of, and that our citizens are protected."
Senate Bill 529 was heralded by those who have crusaded for tougher laws and condemned by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which called it "unjust and unfair." There are an estimated 250,000 to 800,000 illegal immigrants in Georgia. No one knows the exact number, nor their impact on the economy and taxpayer-funded social services.
"Certainly we're disappointed the governor signed the bill," said Tisha Tallman, legal counsel for MALDEF's Atlanta office. "We believe this legislation does nothing to move us forward in the direction we need to be moving economically, culturally and socially."
Tallman said MALDEF "continues to prepare for possible litigation" but has made no final decision on if or when a lawsuit will be filed. Tallman has argued some provisions of the law pre-empt federal authority and are therefore unconstitutional. Supporters say they are confident the law will withstand any court challenge.
D.A. King, a Cobb County activist who has lobbied state lawmakers and organized rallies in support of a crackdown on illegal immigration, applauded the law. Polls have indicated more than 80 percent of Georgians wanted the state Legislature to address the issue during its recent session, which ended last month.
"I am absolutely ecstatic that the governor of Georgia has joined 82 percent of the people who wanted something done about illegal immigration on a state level," King said after a rally Monday at the Capitol. "The bill is the most comprehensive of its kind in the country."
King predicted the Georgia law would be a model for other states. He said it could help spur Congress to action as it debates a federal crackdown.
"I don't know what it will take to get the president and Congress to do their jobs," he said. "But I think [SB] 529 is a step in that direction. It's certainly a step toward protecting ourselves absent the promised federal care."
The legislation breezed through the election-year Legislature as Georgia became one of more than two dozen states trying to confront an issue many believe has been ignored by the federal government.
Initially, business and agricultural interests were leery of the plan, but they muted their objections after trigger dates for key provisions were delayed, giving them more time to prepare for the changes.
Under the law, adult illegal immigrants may not obtain some taxpayer-funded services. However, their children are exempt, and adults will still have access to some medical services, including emergency care, treatment for communicable diseases, and prenatal care. The children of illegal immigrants may still attend public school — a right that has been guaranteed by the federal courts.
Some provisions kick in July 1, 2007, including tough penalties for human trafficking. But other key provisions — one would hold employers responsible for hiring illegal immigrants — will not take effect until 2008 for those with fewer than 500 workers.
One portion prohibits employers from claiming a state tax deduction on the wages of illegal immigrants. However, it depends on the worker providing documentation, and most experts agree there are so many fake documents in the pipeline that it will be difficult to enforce.
"There is a legitimate argument with fake documents," said Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock), who sponsored the bill. "And I pledge to come back next year and work specifically on that issue."
Rogers has come under attack from some proponents of a crackdown, who argue the law does not go far enough, and those on the other side who argue that it unfairly punishes low-paid laborers who underpin agriculture and the hospitality and construction industries.
"Somebody once told me, you know you've got a bill just right when the people on both ends start complaining," he said after attending Monday's signing. "So maybe we hit it just right for this year."
Rogers declined to speculate about the political implications of the crackdown in an election year — all 236 state lawmakers, the governor and most statewide officers are up for election. Some critics have accused Republicans of pushing the bill to boost their political fortunes.
"Anytime you send a message to the people of Georgia that we are serious about enforcing the law and the law ought to apply equally to everyone, that is a good message to send," Rogers said. "It doesn't matter what party you are in or what year it is."
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Erik Voss
erik@ICAtlanta.org
404-457-5901 Direct
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