A Georgia Senate committee advanced legislation Wednesday that would expose school districts and other governing bodies to lawsuits if they violate a state law that requires cooperation with federal officials and police on immigration enforcement.
The Republican-led Senate Public Safety Committee voted 5-3 to pass Senate Bill 21, which would waive sovereign immunity for violators. The legislation targets what has come to be known as “sanctuary city” policies — local rules against collaborating with federal immigration authorities.
The measure requires sheriffs to comply with federal immigration detainer requests, and a representative of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association said his group was neutral on that.
