Musings on Immigration

This week both branches of the Georgia State Legislature have been busy in trying to pass anti-immigration legislation. The curious part of their efforts is what appears to be a complete lack of communication between the branches and what their specific purposes are. THE GEORGIA HOUSE DISSES THE GEORGIA SENATE On Monday, the Georgia House completely eviserated the Senate version of the anti-immigration legislation by substituting, in whole, for the entire SB 40, with what it was HB 87. Unfortunately, the committee chair and the bill's sponsor were not completely truthful with the public, or with their committee members about the actual content of the "new" SB 40, better known now at HB 87 "Heavy." Sections 1 through 9 of HB 87 and HB 87 Heavy are identical. Section 11 through 18, and Sections 20 through 22 also are identical. BUT, there are two significant and otherwise unnoticed changes in Section 10 , and in Section 19 . First, in Section 10, the Ho...

It appears that the two Georgia Republican sponsors of the Arizona Copycat Legislation, HB 87, have backed out of an appearance with two Democratic opponents to this job-killing bill on Wednesday, March 23 at the Georgia State University Law School. The focus of this particular debate was to be the cost of HB 87, something these Republicans have refused to acknowledge or discuss. In fact, when I directly asked them this question during my testimony at the Judiciary Committee hearing in the House last month, all I received back were blank stares. On Wednesday, March 23, 2011, this event was planned: On Wednesday, March 23, 2011 from 5:30 to 6:45 pm , four lawmakers from the GA General Assembly will come to GSU College of Law for an event entitled "Can Georgia Afford It? The Costs of Passing Immigration Laws at the State Level." ** The event will cover HB 87 , also known as the “Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011.” This bill is the subject of much ...