The Georgia Senate has approved a bill that requires sheriffs in the state to notify immigration authorities if they believe an undocumented immigrant is present in their jail. This comes just one day after the parents of murder victim Laken Riley shared their story with Georgia lawmakers. The bill aims to address concerns regarding undocumented immigrants who may be involved in criminal activities.
“I am standing here before you as a broken man. A part of my purpose has been taken away,” expressed Jason Riley, father of Riley, to the state Senate.
Senate Republicans have introduced a bill that aims to compel Georgia sheriffs to notify federal immigration officials whenever they suspect the presence of a foreign national within their jail.
If a sheriff refuses to perform their duty of reporting an undocumented immigrant to federal authorities, they could face a misdemeanor charge for the first offense. For subsequent offenses, the charge could escalate to a high and aggravated misdemeanor.
The funding they receive from the state may also be at risk.
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According to Senator John Albers, individuals who knowingly and willfully disregard the law will face penalties. He emphasized that the legislation includes consequences for non-compliance. In an interview with Channel 2’s Richard Elliot, Senator Albers highlighted the presence of penalties throughout the law.
However, there were Democrats who vehemently opposed the bill.
State Senator Nabilah Islam Parkes questioned the fairness of punishing numerous individuals, including innocent men, women, and children, solely based on their immigration status, which may be the only thing they share with the perpetrator of a crime.
According to Atlanta Democrat Jason Esteves, Republicans argue that laws like this one could have potentially prevented Riley’s murder. However, Esteves disagrees with this viewpoint.
Esteves argued that although the Laken Riley tragedy was indeed a tragedy and he empathizes with it, he firmly believes that the proposed bill would not have been able to prevent it.
According to Albers, the bill was not related to the mentioned crime, but rather focused on ensuring that sheriffs are held accountable for adhering to the law.
State Senator Albers emphasized that the bill at hand was not a knee-jerk reaction but rather the result of years of work. He emphasized that the bill had already been introduced in the House prior to the tragic death of his constituent, Laken Riley.
This passage is not yet finalized.
The bill was modified by the Senate to gain the support of the Georgia Sheriff’s Association, and it will now be sent back to the House next week.
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