Georgia’s governor gave final approval Wednesday to a bill requiring jailers across the state to check the immigration status of inmates and work with federal immigration officials instead of housing people in the United States. illegally.
Gov. Brian Kemp signed the bill into law at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, making most of the provisions go into effect immediately.
Kemp also signed a separate law requiring cash bail for 30 additional crimes, while restricting individuals and charitable bail funds from paying cash bail for more than three people per year unless they meet the requirements to become at a bail bond company, according to The Associated Press. The bail law goes into effect on July 1.
The Republican governor said the immigration bill “became one of our top priorities following the senseless death of Laken Riley at the hands of someone who was in this country illegally and who had already been arrested even after crossing border”.
DRAFT GEORGIA IMMIGRATION BILL THAT WOULD FORCE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO WORK WITH FEDERAL OFFICIALS IS SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNMENT. KEMP
University of Georgia murder suspect Jose Ibarra lived a five-minute walk from the approximate location where he allegedly murdered nursing student Laken Riley, 22, on Feb. 22. (Mark Sims for Fox News Digital/ Laken Riley/ José Ibarra)
Jose Ibarra was arrested in February on charges of murder and assault in the death of Laken Riley, 22, a nursing student at the University of Georgia.
Ibarra, 26, crossed into the United States illegally in 2022, immigration officials said. It is unclear whether the suspect requested asylum or not.
“If you enter our country illegally and continue to commit more crimes in our communities, we will not allow your crimes to go unanswered,” Kemp said.
GEORGIA AG FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST ADMINISTRATION BID FOR TITLE IX REVIEW: ‘DESTROYING WOMEN’S SPORTS’
Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp speaks at an event hosted by radio host Erick Erickson in Atlanta, Georgia, on August 18, 2023. (Megan Varner/Getty Images)
As the bill moved through the state legislature, Democrats raised concerns that it would turn law enforcement officials into immigration cops, making communities less willing to work with police and report crimes.
Opponents also pointed to studies suggesting that immigrants are less likely than native-born Americans to commit crimes.
Under the law, local governments will be denied state funding if they do not cooperate.
ANTI-TRUMP LEADS OUT IN DEBATE FOR ‘SCHMOOZE’ WITH CELEBS, IS CHALLENGED TO A REMATCH
Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill requiring jailers across the state to check the immigration status of inmates and work with federal immigration officials instead of housing people who are in the United States illegally. (iStock)
Jails must also apply for an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to allow local jailers to help enforce immigration laws. Although local jailers can assist with law enforcement, they cannot make immigration-specific arrests outside of jails.
As for changes to cash bail, the Republican-backed bill requires criminals to be held on bail to keep them locked up.
The bill also departs from efforts championed by former Republican Gov. Nathan Deal in 2018, allowing judges to release most people accused of misdemeanors without bail.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Supporters said judges would still have the discretion to set exceptionally low bail. A separate part of the 2018 reform requiring judges to consider a person’s ability to pay would remain law.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
