The state Senate has passed legislation targeting sanctuary cities in Georgia. In 33-18 vote on Thursday, senators voted to approve SB 21. The bill removes immunity from communities that do not comply with federal immigration law.
Senate Appropriations Chair Blake Tillery sponsored the bill.
“Senate Bill 21 just adds teeth to Georgia law,” according to Tillery. “We currently have laws in place regarding immigration and some of those laws in Georgia are not being followed. And all Senate Bill 21 says is if you’re not going to follow Georgia immigration law, will you wave your sovereign immunity if something bad happens because you were not following Georgia immigration law.”
Opponents, like Democratic Senator Nabilah Islam Parks, say the measure is not needed.
“There is no sanctuary city in Georgia, not a single one,” Islam Parks said. “This bill will target immigrant kids, kids from working class families…SB 21 is cruel, it is unnecessary, and it is shameful.”
Democrat Nikki Merritt says the bill would further strain local law enforcement resources.
“SB 21 is just going to make this problem worse,” according to Merritt. “It basically is an unfunded mandate in place without calling it an unfunded mandate. Because now we’ve got to figure out how to hire more people and find the money for it in our local governments.”
The bill now moves to the house.
