{"id":12169,"date":"2016-03-02T11:24:14","date_gmt":"2016-03-02T16:24:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/live-immigrationreform.pantheonsite.io\/?p=12169"},"modified":"2018-12-28T13:39:40","modified_gmt":"2018-12-28T18:39:40","slug":"georgia-senate-moves-anti-sanctuary-drivers-license-bills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.immigrationreform.com\/2016\/03\/02\/georgia-senate-moves-anti-sanctuary-drivers-license-bills\/","title":{"rendered":"Georgia Senate Moves Anti-Sanctuary, Driver\u2019s License Bills"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"iStock_000024792977_Large\"<\/a>The Georgia Senate passed SB 269 on Friday, February 26, underscoring the Peach State\u2019s reputation as a leader in the fight against illegal immigration.\u00a0 Indeed, Georgia already has several pro-immigration enforcement laws on the books, which SB 269<\/a> by Sen. Jesse Stone (R-23) serves to strengthen.<\/p>\n

Specifically, Georgia law already requires all public<\/a>, and private employers<\/a> with more than 10 employees, to participate in the federal E-Verify employment eligibility authorization program.\u00a0 Moreover, Georgia requires state and local governments to use the federal SAVE system<\/a> to verify the lawful presence of individuals before administering public benefits.<\/p>\n

To enforce these provisions, Georgia law requires agencies to submit annual compliance reports<\/a>. If the entity subject to the compliance report is found in violation of the law, the state may<\/i> require certification of compliance to receive funding.<\/p>\n

In addition to its employment and public benefit verification laws, Georgia also takes the critical step of prohibiting local governments from instituting sanctuary policies<\/a>.\u00a0 Specifically, current law prohibits jurisdictions from restricting public employees from cooperating with federal officials or law enforcement with regard to reporting immigration status information.<\/p>\n

SB 269 strengthens these current laws in two key ways.\u00a0 First, the bill adds Georgia\u2019s anti-sanctuary provisions to the list items for which local governments must issue annual compliance reports.\u00a0 Second, it amends current law by asserting that the state shall<\/i> <\/b>require certification as proof of compliance to receive funding.<\/p>\n

In short, SB 269 would make it so that jurisdictions in Georgia that refuse to comply with state law prohibiting sanctuary policies, requiring E-Verify, and directing the use of the SAVE system, would lose state funding.\u00a0 The Senate overwhelmingly passed the legislation, 49-2<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Georgia Senate also approved a second immigration bill<\/a> Monday, February 29.\u00a0 Senate Bill (SB) 6<\/a> would stop illegal aliens granted deferred action under President Obama\u2019s executive amnesty<\/a> from receiving standard driver\u2019s licenses in Georgia, and instead requires deferred action recipients to receive \u201cdriving safety cards\u201d or \u201cspecial identification cards.\u201d Licenses or identification cards under the proposal will also indicate that the card holder does not possess lawful status. \u00a0The Georgia Senate approved SB 6 by a 37-17 vote<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Senator Josh McKoon (R-29) introduced Senate Bill 6 to close\u00a0the unintentional loophole\u00a0that allows illegal aliens to receive regular Georgia driver\u2019s licenses.\u00a0 Currently, Georgia law<\/a> allows driver\u2019s license applicants to present documents showing a grant of deferred action to meet its lawful presence requirement. \u201cWe have very little in the way of identity verification for people that are receiving these licenses and who have no lawful status,\u201d Senator McKoon commented just before the vote.<\/p>\n

\u201cPreviously, Georgia law restricted illegal aliens from getting a driver\u2019s license,\u201d Senator McKoon said last year<\/a>, while discussing a similar proposal that would have revoked driver\u2019s licenses from deferred action recipients all together. \u201cWhen the President created the \u2018deferred action status\u2019 class, he deliberately created a loophole to make millions of illegal aliens eligible for Georgia driver’s licenses and other public benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n

A 2015 poll conducted by Rosetta Stone Communications revealed that Georgia voters oppose allowing illegal aliens, even those who have received deferred action under President Obama\u2019s executive action, to receive driver\u2019s licenses. Sixty-four percent of registered voters in Georgia supported legislation to prevent illegal aliens with deferred action from receiving driver\u2019s licenses in the state, with only 21% of voters opposing.<\/p>\n

Currently, only 12 states and the District of Columbia<\/a> have laws that grant driving privileges to illegal aliens. However, President Obama\u2019s executive amnesty, if allowed to go into effect, will make illegal aliens eligible for driver\u2019s licenses all 50 states, in addition to shielding illegal aliens from deportation and rewarding them with work authorization.<\/p>\n

Both bills now go to the Georgia House, where Republicans have a margin of 118-60. The Georgia General Assembly adjourns March 31, giving the lower chamber a month to move on the legislation.\u00a0 Stay tuned to FAIR for updates\u2026.<\/i>