In Atlanta, certain Georgia senators are pushing for measures to penalize cities and counties allegedly harboring undocumented immigrants by slashing most state aid and removing elected officials from office.
The Senate Public Safety Committee voted 4-1 on Wednesday to revise House Bill 301, aiming to enforce a 2009 state law banning so-called sanctuary cities and counties.
This move follows the introduction of several Republican-backed proposals after police arrested a Venezuelan man, Jose Ibarra, on charges of murdering 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus. Immigration authorities revealed that Ibarra, 26, entered the United States unlawfully in 2022. His asylum status remains uncertain.
Riley, a student at Augusta University’s Athens campus, was discovered dead on February 22 after failing to return from a morning run in a wooded area.
The Senate committee substantially modified the bill, previously focused on penalties for speeding tickets from automated cameras. State Sen. Kim Jackson, a Stone Mountain Democrat, expressed frustration over the lack of time to review the new language before the meeting.
Under the revised bill, any Georgia resident could sue, alleging a city or county’s violation of the 2009 law. If proven, the state would cut off most state and federal aid, excluding essential emergency and health services. Additionally, judges could order the removal of elected officials and permanently bar the re-adoption of sanctuary policies.
Republican Sen. Randy Robertson of Cataula argued that the bill strengthens compliance with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ensuring sheriff’s offices adhere to the 2009 law.
Critics view the proposal as another attempt by Republican lawmakers to assert control over local governments, potentially leading to legal battles and administrative burdens.
Isabel Otero, Georgia policy director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, criticized the measure, likening it to the former Immigration Enforcement Review Board, which was dissolved in 2019 after investigating complaints about local immigration enforcement.
This legislative move follows the advancement of House Bill 1105, passed by the Georgia House last week, aiming to compel local law enforcement to assist in identifying and detaining immigrants in the country illegally for potential deportation by ICE.
Several Republicans singled out Athens-Clarke County as a target of the new proposal, with Lt. Gov. Burt Jones emphasizing the state’s commitment to combating sanctuary policies.
Athens-Clarke Mayor Kelly Girtz refuted claims of violating state law, highlighting the city’s annual certification of compliance. Critics point to a 2019 resolution by the Athens-Clarke County Commission, but Girtz clarified that it lacks legal enforceability.
