Bill requiring law enforcement to report undocumented immigrants to ICE passes on final day
A contentious immigration bill requiring law enforcement to partner with federal immigration forces passed in the Georgia House in the final hours of the 2024 legislative session, while a bill that would impose financial penalties on municipalities that adopt “sanctuary city” policies failed to resurface before the Sine Die deadline.
House Bill 1105, authored by state Rep. Jesse Petrea (R-Savannah) and passed with a 99-75 vote, would require law enforcement agencies throughout Georgia to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement by detaining individuals who are suspected of being undocumented.
The bill would better enforce an existing state law by withholding federal and state funding from sheriffs who refuse to comply.
More: House passes bill to restrict funding to Georgia law enforcement that fail to work with ICE
The bill passed in the House on Crossover Day and was amended in the state Senate before returning to the House for final passage, mere hours before the end of the final legislative day for this year.
“The bill now penalizes local government leaders who support sanctuary policies," Petrea said.
Immigration policies gained greater momentum in both chambers after the death of 22-year-old Athens nursing student Laken Riley on Feb. 22 on the University of Georgia campus. UGA police have charged Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, an undocumented Venezuelan man living in Athens, with her murder.
Riley’s death further enflamed an already heated national debate on immigration policy. President Joe Biden mentioned Riley in his State of the Union speech, though he mispronounced her name. Former President Donald Trump met with some of Riley's family during a recent rally in Rome, Georgia.
Riley's father, Jason, visited the Senate earlier this month to call for stronger immigration policy enforcement.
Republicans have tied undocumented immigrants to issues ranging from violence to drug trafficking, arguing that stronger immigration policies will improve public safety overall.
“As we looked at the situations and the circumstances in Georgia around immigration and illegal immigrants, certainly we know that Georgians deserve to be safe in our homes, where we work, where we play, where we run,” said House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) in a press conference after the House adjourned. “We know that all Georgians deserve that, and the House is committed to public safety.”
HB 1105 now heads to Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk for his signature. Kemp has previously voiced his support for the bill.
More: Laken Riley's father urges Georgia Senate to pass immigration legislation
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Immigration: Bill requiring police to partner with ICE passes House
