Immigrant Advocates Oppose HB 1083
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
***PRESS STATEMENT***
MARCH 11, 2020
Press Contacts: Jeff Migliozzi, (334) 303-1261, jeff.migliozzi@splcenter.org; Swathi Shanmugasundaram, (404) 759-0488, sshan@advancingjustice-atlanta.org; Priyanka Bhatt, 908-839-6135, priyanka@projectsouth.org; Sebastian Saavedra, 678-794-2535, sebastian@glahr.org; Preye Cobham, Esq. 404-668-2241, womenwatchafrika@gmail.com
Immigrant Advocates Strongly Oppose Anti-Sanctuary Bill in General Assembly
ATLANTA – Immigrant community organizations strongly oppose HB 1083, which will harm immigrant families and attack on public safety. The bill expands the definition of “sanctuary policies” and strips local municipalities and local law enforcement from their discretion to adopt individualized policies regarding immigration enforcement. In addition, this bill permits individuals to sue local law enforcement entities or agencies who violate this statute. Therefore, local taxpayers will be forced to foot the bill when their governments uphold the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, by refusing to detain immigrants without appropriate judicial oversight, and expose themselves to civil lawsuits as proposed by HB 1083.
“Not only is this bill unconstitutional, it is an attack on public safety and the immigrant community at large. It would make communities less safe and force them to live in fear, questioning their safety with local law enforcement,” said Preye Cobham, Esq., Attorney and Legal Advisor for Women Watch Afrika.
Beyond the clear liability and sovereign immunity issues for localities, this bill will harm communities. Law enforcement would be stripped of its discretion, causing confusion and fear from survivors of crimes who will now have to choose between reporting a crime and possibly separating families. “Community members are concerned that this bill will intensify racial profiling and disrupt trust between immigrant communities and local police. This type of fear-mongering exposes immigrants to more risks and vulnerability when they are stopped for minor offenses,” said Lovette Kargbo Thompson, Atlanta Lead Organizer, for the Black Alliance for Just Immigration.
The Georgia General Assembly has previously prohibited municipalities from enacting sanctuary policies, and even extended this prohibition to institutions of higher education in 2017. The state of Georgia has zero sanctuary cities within its borders. The cities with policies prohibited by this bill simply require that federal authorities provide judicial warrants to enforce immigration detainers covering their bases and upholding the Fourth Amendment rights of Georgians. These cities’ policies do not impede communication or cooperation with federal authorities, but rather provide the appropriate safeguard to communities. This is why there is no city in violation of current anti-sanctuary state laws. Therefore, HB 1083 is an unfunded mandate, and unnecessarily punitive towards municipalities and local law enforcement agencies that choose to create their own policies to protect themselves and their communities.
HB 1083 was quickly pushed through committee and passed by a narrow margin. It is up for discussion in the Rules Committee, which could lead to a vote in the House as early as Crossover Day on Thursday, March 12th. Immigrant rights advocates are actively engaging members of the House to oppose this hateful bill. Our coalition urges the Speaker of the House not to call it for a House vote. We urge concerned Georgians to call and speak out against this hateful bill by calling Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, (404) 656-5020, the Chairman of Rules Committee Rep. Richard Smith, (404) 656-5141, and Vice Chairman of Rules Committee Rep. Matt Hatchett, (404) 656-5025.
"We are here in solidarity with all immigrants who are threatened by this proposed state policy that will unconstitutionally detain individuals, separate families, and increase suffering within already horrid immigration detention centers in Georgia. Do not let the words fool you, HB 1083 is not about increasing public safety, it is about perpetuating a false narrative vilifying immigrant. We will continue to work within our communities to protect and defend our rights,” said Priyanka Bhatt, Staff Attorney at Project South.
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Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta is the first and only legal advocacy nonprofit dedicated to the civil rights of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in Georgia and the Southeast. Our mission is to protect and promote the civil and human rights of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in Georgia and the Southeast through policy advocacy, legal services, organizing & civic engagement, and impact litigation. Follow: @aaaj_atlanta
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