Georgia lawmakers on Thursday voted to strengthen the state's already strict immigration laws in the wake of the murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley. His death sparked a broader dispute over immigration policy for the Venezuelan man. The state was wrongfully charged with her murder.
In the frenetic final hours of the legislative session, the state House gave final approval to a bill that would require local law enforcement agencies to vet the immigration status of people in their custody and cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
The bill comes after Republican lawmakers vowed to crack down after Riley's body was discovered in a wooded area on the University of Georgia campus in Athens last month. Her death shook the community, which is about 110 miles from Atlanta and home to the state's flagship university.
The incident quickly resonated beyond Georgia, with Republicans claiming her killing was an example of President Biden's failure to adequately respond to the influx of migrants.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (Republican) criticized the White House's “reluctance to protect our southern border.” Riley's death was also called out during the State of the Union address when President Biden responded to a jeer from Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Mr. Biden went off script and said, “This is an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal alien.” The comment sparked a backlash from liberal Democrats and immigrant advocates, who particularly criticized Biden for using the word “illegal.” As a derogatory term that dehumanizes people.
Advocates for stricter immigration laws are focusing on Jose Antonio Ibarra, a man accused of murder, who was arrested by Border Patrol in 2022 for illegally entering the United States.
He was released on temporary residency through parole, a practice the Biden administration ended last year. Ybarra was arrested by New York police for driving a scooter with a child without a helmet and without a license, officials said. He was arrested again in October in connection with a shoplifting case in Georgia and released.
The attorney representing Mr. Ybarra in the murder case requested a jury trial. He remains held without bail.
A federal bill named after Riley was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives this month, with 37 Democrats joining Republicans in supporting it requiring federal detention for immigrants who enter the country without authorization and are accused of theft. The bill has little chance of passing in the Senate, and critics have accused it of exploiting the tragedy.
In Georgia, a bill being sent to the governor would require local law enforcement authorities to verify the immigration status of detained persons who lack documentation and detain persons who are not legal residents. In such cases, a federal immigration official must be notified. Local law enforcement agencies would also be required to regularly publish data documenting the number of incidents reported to federal authorities and their responses.
“I think this is a really common sense measure,” said state Rep. Houston Gaines, a Republican whose district includes Athens. “What we're talking about is individuals who enter the country illegally and commit crimes, commit further criminal offenses, and make sure we hold those individuals accountable.”
The bill would formalize what has long been standard practice for many law enforcement agencies in the state and add penalties, including loss of state and federal funds, for noncompliance. .
“This is an expansion of current law,” said J. Terry Norris, executive director of the Georgia Sheriffs Association. “You've got more teeth.”
The bill has been criticized for its vague language and for imposing an undue burden on local officials who could face lawsuits. The bill has also fueled concerns that it could increase racial and ethnic profiling by police.
Supporters of the bill argue that law enforcement officials did not notify federal authorities and that stricter requirements were needed. “Every sheriff is required by law to report when an alien is in jail,” said state Rep. Jesse Petrea, the bill's Republican sponsor. “Our concern is that not everyone is doing that.”
But Mr. Norris disputed that. He said a statewide survey showed all 142 sheriffs who operate prisons said they already report that information to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Critics say the bill is an overreaction that capitalizes on the pain caused by Riley's death. The bill also interferes with the authority of local governments, denying them the ability to define “their own approaches to immigration that are effective for each community,” said state Sen. Josh McLaughlin. (Democratic Party) said.
“I think reasonable people can disagree about what immigration policy should be,” he said. “But what the majority really goes too far with these bills is make the penalties and requirements so harsh that they essentially deny local governments the ability to be their own independent governments. .”
