February 24, 2025
The lawmakers want to set up punitive measures for mayors, council members, or different authorities officers who defy bans.
Republican lawmakers in additional than 20 states want to punish native officers who defy the Trump administration’s directives on immigration by threatening lawsuits, fines, or jail time, as they aim sanctuary insurance policies that permit for noncooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
In keeping with The Related Press, the legislators want to set up punitive measures for mayors, council members, or different authorities officers who defy bans in a few of these states on sanctuary insurance policies.
As Georgia state Sen. Blake Tillery advised the AP, the objective of the push from the MAGA-aligned Republicans is to present “enamel to those that are being aggrieved by native governments and native officers who usually are not abiding by Georgia immigration legislation.”
A invoice he proposed in his residence state, which permits lawsuits towards those that create sanctuary insurance policies, is now within the Georgia Home of Representatives after clearing the Senate.
Nonetheless, some opponents of Tillery’s invoice, like Democratic Sen. Nikki Merritt, argued that the invoice might additionally negatively affect the work of Georgia law enforcement officials and cause them to violate pre-existing federal limits on how lengthy they’ll detain immigrants.
A 2024 legislation enacted in Georgia requires native legislation enforcement to cooperate with federal authorities to establish and detain unlawful individuals or lose funding, and the brand new legislation proposed by Tillery is successfully doubling down on that current statute permitting residents to sue native governments, officers, and even workers for violating the ban.
“This all pertains to Donald Trump’s warfare on immigrants and native individuals making an attempt to garner favor with him via laws that doesn’t resolve any issues,” Charles Kuck, an Atlanta-based immigration legal professional, advised the AP.
In keeping with Vox, Trump administration’s flurry of exercise regarding immigrants has left the Democratic Occasion divided on adequately reply.
The get together is basically divided into three camps: those that wish to again a few of Trump’s tough-on-immigration proposals, just like the Laken Riley Act; those that see their constituents favoring quite a few his positions however themselves haven’t determined how they’re going to vote, and progressives who’re resisting the Trump administration at each flip relating to immigration.
“In case you begin speaking about deporting the DREAMers on this nation who’ve gone via our faculties, graduated from our universities, and now can contribute again to this society, if you happen to’re speaking about deporting them, that’s going to be a problem,” Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-TX) stated. “There’s going to be opposition if you happen to speak about deporting kids, or going into church buildings and faculties and hospitals, and harassing our youngsters. However if you wish to deliver again the invoice the Republicans and Democrats had been ready to signal final yr, I feel you will discover help there.”
RELATED CONTENT: Not A Georgia Little Caesars Threatening To Name ICE On Its Patrons