Georgia immigration crackdown takes hold
http://www.timesfreepress.com/absolu...7648&zoneid=77Georgia immigration crackdown takes hold
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Charles Bullock - Download MP3- By Matt Wilson and Erin Fuchs
Staff Writers
Just a few days after the federal bill meant to reform immigration law failed on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Georgia's sweeping law to crack down on illegal immigrants and employers who hire them became official.
"There's not really a whole lot of debate in Georgia," said Dr. Charles Bullock, a political science professor at the University of Georgia, on how Georgia put a law on the books while the federal measure floundered.
Dr. Bullock noted the strong conservative slant of the Georgia General Assembly and a stance "pretty much opposed to in-migration" as reasons for the consensus. Meanwhile, a stronger Democratic Party nationally and a wider range of opinions led to a more divided Congress, he said.
The Georgia law, which took effect Sunday, sets a timetable to require employers and contractors to verify the immigration status of all new hires or risk losing state tax breaks.
Roy Bowen, president of the Georgia Textile Manufacturers Association, said the new law would not likely change industry hiring practices.
"We believe that our member companies act in good faith in their hiring practices," Mr. Bowen said. "We believe we are in compliance with state and federal law."
Mr. Bowen did say companies would "double-check" documents potential employees provide.
Still, said state Rep. John Meadows, R-Calhoun, false documents are common.
"I'm not so sure (the verification process) works so well, as we're doing it now," Rep Meadows said.
Charlie Bethel, human resources manager at Dalton, Ga., carpet manufacturer J&J Industries, said his company uses the most stringent federal system available to verify documentation, the Employment Eligibility Verification Program/Basic Pilot.
The Georgia Department of Labor issued new rules last month requiring all contractors and subcontractors who plan to do work for the state to enroll in that program.
The new law likely will have strong effects in the Dalton area. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Whitfield County's population is 28.2 percent Hispanic, compared to 7.1 percent of Georgia as a whole.
Dr. Douglas Bachtel, a demographer at the University of Georgia, said those figures should probably be higher, as Hispanics are usually undercounted in the federal census.
"Nobody has that information," Dr. Bachtel said about a precise count.
The new law also requires law enforcement officials to check the immigration status of anyone arrested for a felony or a DUI.
Detainees determined to be in the country illegally are to be reported to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
Georgia Department of Public Safety spokesman Gordy Wright stressed that the law would not make deportation the main duty of state troopers.
"We're not going to be a part of immigration raids or anything like that," Mr. Wright said.
Whitfield County, Ga., Sheriff Scott Chitwood said that the law is simply formalizing a current practice.
"If we have reason to believe that a person is illegal, then we have notified ICE in the past," Sheriff Chitwood said. "It (the law) is mandating that to be protocol."
Opponents, including Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, have argued that the law's provisions create an environment that is unfriendly to Hispanics. Mr. Gonzalez called it the "Jose Crow laws of Georgia."
But Rep. Meadows said he believes the new law is reasonable and might have been far stricter if Georgia lawmakers had known no federal immigration bill would pass.
"There's not a thing in this bill that I believe is unfair," said Rep. Meadows, a former Calhoun mayor.
Then again, rumors circulating in immigrant communities have led many to believe that the law is stricter than it actually is, according to Carlos Calderin, a Dalton-based immigration attorney.
"There's a lot of misinformation on this law," Mr. Calderin said about talk in the Hispanic community.
He said some immigrants believe, falsely, "that the police will go around a neighborhood and look for anybody who looks suspicious, anybody who looks like they might be illegal and simply deport them."
Mr. Calderin said he worries that, because of concerns about the law, immigrants will not call the police when they witness a crime, for fear of being deported.
America Gruner, president of Dalton's Coalition of Latino Leaders, said that many in the Hispanic community feared the law even before it went into effect Sunday. Some immigrants she knows in Dalton have not been leaving their houses except to go to work, she said.
"We knew it was coming, but we were hoping that ... this legislation would be revoked," Ms. Gruner said. "But it didn't happen."
Good show Sonny!
Get ready for a Violation of Civil Rights lawsuit. The first time a cop pulls someone over who is a Hispanic-American citizen, there's going to be trouble. Not to mention how are the employers going to be sure that all the documents they're presented with are legal. I have this image of a building contractor telling the authorities, 'What, do I look like some sort of documentation expert to you?'
ahhh, elhombre our resident (mp.net) brown supremist. If you were unaware, illegal aliens are comprised of all ethnicities, not just those of the hispanic heritage.
I guess in your mind any attempt by local authorities to enforce the law is absurd to you? Based upon your posts, I really don't know how the USA is to maintain our standard of living or society, when you don't control who comes into the nation?
A. How on earth is the USA suppose to take of its own citizens? If it has 12-20 million non-citizens within its country?
B. What other nation on earth allows anyone and everyone to crusie into its nation? Is that how Costa Rica works? Or maybe Angola? Or the peaceful, all-tolerant Iran?
C. How come Mexico and Honduras (for example) have no responsibility whatsoever in taking care of their own people?
I am happy to see the State of Georgia taking care of themselves. That is what the founding fathers had in mind.
The law only applies to Public employers and subcontractors.
Expect contractors and subcontractors to have 499 employees and a surge in jobs before the 2009 deadline.
New state law on illegal immigrants looks strict, but is it a real crackdown?
By BRIAN FEAGANS, MARYLOU PICKEL, ANNA VARELA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/30/07
Even though an overhaul of the nation's immigration laws collapsed in Washington, Georgia's crackdown takes effect Sunday.
Supporters say the new state law, known as SB 529, is one of the toughest to confront illegal immigration, an issue that has bedeviled lawmakers nationwide. Advocates in Georgia's Hispanic community say the law could drive away workers and hurt the state's economy. Others say it doesn't go far enough and will only scare — not snare — people who are in the country illegally.
EMPLOYMENT
• The law: Contractors and subcontractors who have 500 employees or more and work on public projects must run new hires through a federal database to make sure they can work here legally. By 2009, all contractors and subcontractors working on public jobs will have to use the database.
• Reality check: The law outlines no penalties for companies that fail to comply, and the Georgia Department of Labor says it will conduct random audits — if the Legislature sets aside money. But it's possible those who make false statements could be punished under another section of Georgia law.
HIGHER EDUCATION
• The law: An attorney for the Board of Regents says federal law likely bars illegal immigrants from receiving in-state tuition waivers.
• Reality check: Immigrant advocates have protested, noting that 10 states have found a way to grant in-state tuition to high school graduates who are in the country illegally.
PUBLIC BENEFITS
• The law: The state and cities can't provide welfare unless recipients swear they are here legally and the agency runs their name through a federal database. There are several benefits that people can still receive regardless of immigration status, including emergency room care, immunizations to prevent infectious diseases, and access to soup kitchens and crisis counseling.
• Reality check: Many welfare programs, such as food stamps and public housing, are federally funded. Federal law already denies most benefits to illegal immigrants.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
• The law: Jailers must try to determine the nationality and legal status of those charged with DUI or a felony. If they find a suspected illegal immigrant, jailers notify federal immigration authorities.
• Reality check: A person's nationality or legal status may not prevent him or her from bonding out of jail if the feds don't call in time and ask that the person be held on immigration violations.
STATE WITHHOLDINGS
• The law: Independent contractors usually get their whole paycheck tax-free and pay their taxes later. Now, employers will have to withhold state income tax from contractors whose workers can't provide certain tax ID information.
• Reality check: Employers would be penalized only if the state Department of Revenue audited their business.
Great, we will be PC and not pull over people based on race. Stay out of Georgia or get with the program. If you own a business and can not bare the responsibility/cost of paperwork/human resources. Then you're a part of the problem too. It would be like telling the IRS " hey screw you and your paperwork, what do I look like a taxpayer?"Originally Posted by ElHombre
Race card has been done to death in Georgia. There are so many programs to help law abiding immigrants/minorities learn English, summer History trips, money for housing, medical care ect, ect that just saying hey I am of another color other than white will not get too far. Maybe on a national level but what is racist about enforcing existing immigration statutes and increasing penalties for violation? Oh it's not unless a minority is in hot water. Makes for good headlines from Dixe.
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