Arizona Style Immigration Law passes the GA House of Representatives

After a lengthy debate Thursday, a majority of the House of Representatives voted to approve legislation intended to crack down on illegal immigration in Georgia by giving law enforcement more authority to investigate people's citizenship status and by penalizing businesses who hire undocumented workers.

Using a law enacted last year in Arizona, which borders Mexico, as a model, members of a special legislative committee that held several hearings last fall on the immigration issue drafted HB 87. The bill would authorize law enforcement officers to determine the immigration status of someone they have stopped or detained for a possible violation if they suspect the person is an illegal immigrant. The person could then be held by police for verification of their immigration status even after the basis for the original probable cause for the stop has expired.

Under the proposal, most business owners would have to provide evidence they have used the federal E-verify system to check the citizenship status of new employees. Using fake identification in order to gain employment would become a felony offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison. HB 87 would also provide Georgia residents an ability to sue a police force or other government agency in Superior Court if they believe the agency is not enforcing the immigration law. 

I believe this measure will result in increased ethnic profiling of law-abiding citizens and adversely affect Georgia businesses, especially the agriculture and tourism industries.

After a vote of 113-56 in favor of passage, HB 87 now goes to the Senate for its consideration.