In case you want to attend the 2016 GALEO “Power Breakfast” funder See HERE

Gold level = $5000.00

For an overview of last year’s extravaganza, see HERE.

Watch the (yikes – 30 minute) defiant keynote speech by an employee of the Hall County Sheriff’s office.

GOLD:

Telemundo Atlanta

Western Union

SILVER:

The Coca-Cola Company

Cox Communications, Inc.

Georgia Power

Bronze:

Del Campo, Weber & Grayson LLC

Leadership Circle:

Briarcliff Pediatrics

Lefko Design Build Inc.

Kuck Immigration Partners

Rocio D. Woody, LLC

Rohan Law, P.C.

Southwest Airlines

Terry Jackson, P.C.

Amigos:

Arnall Golden Gregory LLP; BB&T; Display America, Inc.; Diaz Foods; Jason Esteves, Atlanta Public Schools Board Member; State Senator Steve Henson (D-Tucker); Laura Murvartian; Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE)

Community Partners: Alston & Bird LLP; Ceasar For Our Atlanta; Consultorio Medico Hispano; Kilpatrick Townsend LLP; Sperling Law Group, P.C.; State Rep. Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta); Juliana Henao; State Senator Jack Hill (R-Reidsville); International Women’s Health Services – CIMA; Rey Pascual; Evelyn “Mimi” Woodson, City Council of Columbus

Tables: Jerry Gonzalez; Lefko Design Build, Inc.; McGuire Woods LLP; State Farm Insurance Company; Univision 34 Atlanta.

To see which Republican elected officials attended  last year’s GALEO event, see HERE

Photo: CNN

GALEO 2016

Sheriff Mack Mason SB 320

The below letter was forwarded here by Mr. Robert Trent. We are grateful for him sharing with us.

19 February 2016

Dear members of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee,

I write to express my professional concerns regarding Senate Bill 320, which I understand has passed the Georgia Senate and is now being considered in your committee.

I spent 25 years as an immigration agent actively involved in enforcing our federal immigration laws and last served as the Assistant Director, Enforcement Training, U.S. Immigration Officer Academy, which was located at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, Georgia. In addition, I have also served as a uniformed municipal police officer.

I have read through the language of SB 320 and am quite confused about its purpose. As I understand the explanation on the Department of Driver Services website, when visiting our state, legally admitted, non-resident aliens can already legally drive in Georgia using their home nation’s drivers license if accompanied by a translation into English, if needed.

Concerning language in SB 320 aimed at enforcement, as a practical matter I don’t see how a local or state government could expect a local police officer to be competent in determining if an immigration document has been altered, photo substituted, page altered, date altered etc. or why we would add that verification burden to their already demanding and dangerous mission.

Well-trained CBP and ICE officers can and do miss counterfeit visas and altered passports. How could we expect street cops to perform this forensic procedure? Why are we trying to change this part of the Georgia code?

In addition, requiring local law enforcement officers to become knowledgeable on the visa waiver program and other complex immigration details does not appear to be realistic goal. I fear that one day busy and dedicated officers may avoid interviewing or dealing with aliens – who could represent a possible terror threat – in an effort to avoid the complicated and burdensome new responsibility SB 320 would put on them. I have already witnessed Georgia State troopers waving motorists through roadblocks here in the Brunswick area when they hear a foreign-sounding accent. From my own experience, when laws become to convolute for a police officer to navigate, they will generally avoid enforcement action.

We all desire a more prosperous Georgia, but there should be limits to our risks in that mission. I hope the goal of this legislation is not to increase the security of Georgia or our mutual safety, as I am of the educated opinion that it may have the opposite effect.

I urge you to discard SB 320.

Thank you

Robert Trent
Senior Special Agent (Retired)
U.S. Immigration Service
(912) ***- ****

Brunswick, Georgia 31523

Chiefs

Ltr to GA Chiefs of Police

Response to this blurb

Currently, the state government of Georgia is allowing foreign bureaucrats to decide who can get a Georgia drivers license. No Georgia-administered written or road test.

HB 475/AP     2013   (now state law)  How did your House Rep vote? HERE How did your state Senator vote? HERE 

House Bill 475 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)

By: Representatives Pak of the 108th, Ramsey of the 72nd, Rice of the 95th, Stephens of the 164th, Powell of the 32nd, and others

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT
1 To amend Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
2 drivers’ licenses, so as to authorize the commissioner of driver services to enter into
3 reciprocal agreements on behalf of Georgia for the recognition of drivers’ licenses issued by
4 foreign territories; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
5 purposes.
6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
7 SECTION 1.
8 Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to drivers’ licenses,
9 is amended by revising Code Section 40-5-5, relating to the authority of the Governor to
10 execute binding reciprocal agreements regarding the operation of motor vehicles, publication
11 of the terms of such agreements, and rules and regulations, by adding a new subsection to
12 read as follows:
–>13 “(c) The commissioner is authorized to negotiate and enter into an agreement with a
14 foreign country that exempts the citizens of such foreign country from the knowledge test
15 and the on-the-road driving test required in Code Section 40-5-27 so long as the citizen
16 holds a valid driver’s license of an equivalent class issued by such foreign country;
17 provided, however, that no such agreement shall be entered into unless the foreign country
18 offers the same reciprocity to persons holding a valid driver’s license of an equivalent class
19 issued by the State of Georgia and the commissioner determines that the laws of such
20 foreign country relating to the operation of motor vehicles are sufficiently similar to such
21 laws of this state such that driving safety shall not be compromised; and provided, further,
22 that no such agreement shall be entered into unless the Department of Economic
23 Development has certified that persons or entities from such country have made or are
24 likely to make a substantial economic investment in this state that has or will lead to the
25 substantial creation of jobs in this state. The provisions of this subsection notwithstanding,
26 the department shall not be authorized to enter into any reciprocal agreement with any
H. B. 475 -1-

13 HB 475/AP
27 foreign country that is designated as a state sponsor of terrorism by the United States
28 Department of State. The exemption provided for in this subsection shall not be an
29 exemption from any other legal requirement for the issuance of a driver’s license, including
30 the requirement that the applicant demonstrate lawful presence within the United States in
31 accordance with Code Sections 40-5-21.1 and 40-5-21.2. This subsection shall not apply
32 to citizens of foreign countries applying for a commercial driver’s license or Class M
33 driver’s license.
34 (d) The department shall make a notation on any driver’s license, permit, identification
35 card, or other state identifying document issued by the department pursuant to this Code
36 section. The notation shall be in a manner approved by the department and shall state
37 ‘Limited Term’ or such other notation as determined by the department. Nothing contained
38 in this subsection shall preclude the department from making the same or similar notations
39 on other similarly issued identifying documents. Any driver’s license or other identifying
40 document that is so noted shall not be used as voter identification.”
41 SECTION 2.
42 Said chapter is further amended by revising subsection (a) of Code Section 40-5-27, relating
43 to the examination of applicants for drivers’ licenses, as follows:
44 “(a)(1) The department shall examine every applicant for a driver’s license, except as
45 otherwise provided by subsection (d) of in this Code section. Such examination shall
46 include a test of the applicant’s eyesight, his or her ability to understand official
47 traffic-control devices, and his or her knowledge of safe driving practices and the traffic
48 laws of this state and shall also include a comprehensive on-the-road driving test during
49 which the applicant shall be required to fully demonstrate his or her ability to exercise
50 ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle of the type or general
51 class of vehicles he or she desires a license to drive; provided, however, that the.
52 (2) The on-the-road driving test requirement shall not apply to any applicant for a Class
53 C driver’s license who holds a Class D driver’s license issued on or after January 1, 2002.
54 (3) Neither the on-the-road driving test nor the knowledge test shall apply to:
55 (A) An applicant 18 years of age and older with a valid and current license, or a license
56 that has been expired for less than two years, issued by another state of the United
57 States or the District of Columbia who surrenders his or her previous license to obtain
58 a Georgia license shall be exempt from taking such tests; or
59 (B) An applicant who is a citizen of a foreign country with which the commissioner
60 has entered into a reciprocal agreement pursuant to subsection (c) of Code Section
61 40-5-5.
H. B. 475 -2-

62 63 64 65 66
13
HB 475/AP
(4) The examination may also include such further physical and mental examination as the department finds necessary to determine the applicant’s fitness to operate a motor vehicle safely upon the highways. The commissioner may establish by rules and regulations the type of tests or demonstrations to be made by applicants for any class of license.”
67
68 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
SECTION 3.

#Georgiafornia: Government of the Chamber, by the Chamber, for the Chamber

last edited 12:30 AM February 19, 2016

• Added March 16, 2017: RELATED – New knowledge: Georgia has in place a law that allows foreign nationals to keep their home country’s drivers license in tact and fully valid after they are issued a Georgia drivers license. That is not allowed for Americans and if you have two valid drivers licenses, you will/can be prosecuted for fraud.
• OCGA 40-5-20 

• “(2) Any noncitizen who is eligible for issuance of a driver’s license pursuant to the requirements of this chapter may be issued a driver’s license without surrendering any driver’s license previously issued to him or her by any foreign jurisdiction.”

• ___
• This bill passed the super-majority Republican state Senate yesterday with zero (0) “NAY” votes. You can see that vote HERE. There were four excused absences. It now goes to the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.

Senate Bill 320 – or…”what’s that smell?”

Code Section 40-5-21 – relating to issuance, expiration, and renewal of (drivers) licenses.

Dropped Tuesday, Feb 2, 2016. (Groundhog Day)

Sponsors:
(1) Watson, Ben 1st
(2) Harper, Tyler 7th
(3) Beach, Brandon 21st
(4) Ginn, Frank 47th
(5) Miller, Butch 49th
(6) Dugan, Mike 30th (Gov. Deal floor leader)

Passed out of the Senate Public Safety Committee — (Tyler Harper , Chairman) on Tuesday, Feb 9, 2016. Elapsed time from introduction: five legislative days. History HERE.

Voted on floor Tuesday, Feb 16, 2016, with a floor amendment from Senator Mike Crane. Elapsed time from committee approval: two legislative days (the senate was not in session Friday, Feb. 12 or Monday, Feb 15).
__

State law already says that licensed drivers from nations with a reciprocal agreement with Georgia DDS are exempt from taking the Georgia Knowledge (written) and road tests for a drivers license. Koreans with a Korean drivers license, for example, are not required to take the same tests Americans are to obtain a Georgia drivers license.

Translation: The Georgia Chamber of Commerce: “We don’t want to bother anybody by insuring they can pass our drivers tests…We can make mo’ money if we allow other nations to decide who can drive in Georgia when they do bidness….” This part became law in 2013 (HB 475)  and was shot out of Gov. Deal’s office almost as fast as this 2016 ‘mo’ money bill’. Senator David Shafer called me before session began to take my temperature on the idea. It passed anyway…

SB 320 adds language to law that says if a law enforcement officer cannot verify the validity of a foreign drivers license (they cannot, see further down), written in a foreign language, that license shall be presumed to be valid if the driver/bearer also:

* Comes from a country that participates in the visa waiver program and has in his possession a valid passport from that country with documentation evidencing lawful entry into the United States that is dated within 90 days of the date of the officer’s inspection of such license;
or
* Has in his immediate possession a nonimmigrant (temporary) visa and a valid passport from such country with documentation evidencing lawful entry into the United States that is dated within 12 months of the date of the officer’s inspection of such license;
or
*Has an “International Drivers Permit” –NOTE: An IDP is merely a translation of the foreign language DL into English.

or

* Has in his or her immediate possession a certification in English that the nonresident driver’s license is valid from a foreign consular official – like a Mexican consular official here in Atlanta – along with with “documentation” showing lawful entry into the United States that is dated within 12 months of the date of the officer’s inspection of such license.

Translation: A cop on the street would be expected to be an expert in national immigration and visa documents and know that they are not expired, extended or fake. And we are now handing over investigative power to and trusting consular officials from nations that depend on their citizens to send money back home from the Georgia and the USA to assure our law enforcement personnel that a driver license is real and valid.
or
And, this is my favorite part:
* Has “certification” in English as to the validity of his foreign language, foreign-issued, nonresident driver’s license made by an official designated by the commissioner of DDS or the commissioner of economic development.

Note: This would be the same (current) DDS commissioner who has his official spokesperson telling media that current policy to give illegal aliens with deferred action on deportation a drivers license is “per the “federal DREAM Act.” This, while the DDS legislative liaison has been telling state legislators for two-years that “undocumented and illegal immigrants are not eligible for a Georgia drivers license or ID.” And DDS isn’t that ambitious about following state law anyway.

And it would be the same Gov. Nathan Deal–appointed commissioner of economic development (Chris Carr) whose job it is to make mo’money for the Chamber of Commerce members.

Personal note: There is nobody in the state of Georgia is more obedient to the bosses, profit-oriented and ‘Establishment Republican’ than Chris Carr.

I have spoken tonight to the Gwinnett County Sheriff who kindly put me in touch with his deputy who runs the license plate reader unit. This is a twenty-five year street Deputy Sheriff working in Gwinnett County, Georgia, the number-one immigrant destination of Georgia.I have been told that they have no equipment that would enable them to verify any foreign drivers licenses and that their officers have never had any training on deciphering or inspecting immigration visas and documents or passport stamps.

IF a driver with a foreign drivers license still happens to be cited for a violation?

If a nonresident driver is charged with a violation of Code Section 40-5-20 and the driver had in his immediate possession a driver’s license issued by the foreign country at the time of the offense, such charge shall be dismissed if:

(1) The nonresident foreign driver provides the prosecuting attorney, or the court, with a certification in English as to the validity of his foreign nonresident driver’s license on the date of such offense, whereupon such certification is made by a diplomatic or consular official of such foreign country… and

(2) Evidence exists that such nonresident foreign driver was otherwise authorized to operate a motor vehicle in the United States under the provisions of the Convention on Road Traffic, 3 U.S.T. 3008, TIAS 2487, or any similar such treaty, international agreement, or reciprocal agreement between the United States and a foreign country concerning driving privileges of nonresidents and documentation evidencing lawful entry into the United States that is dated within 12 months of the date of the officer’s inspection of such license;

or

The validity of the driver’s license of such nonresident foreign driver on the date of such offense is confirmed by a means of verification established by the (DDS) commissioner by regulation.” END.

Public safety is not the point here. But the bill passed out of the Republican-controlled Georgia Senate Public Safety committee and passed the senate with zero “no” votes (off the floor with excused absence: Senators Hunter Hill, Josh McKoon, PK Martin, David Lucas)

‘Help me, Dad’

Harper runs from hearing

D.A. King

“Help me, Dad.” – Last words of 32-year-old Kate Steinle as she laid dying in her father’s arms after being shot by a criminal illegal alien who had been released from custody. San Francisco, July, 2015

Readers who want to use their voice in state government and make a definite difference in the safety and security of Georgia should participate in the legislative process of Senate Bill 6 under the Gold Dome. As it is written, SB 6 could prevent ‘death by illegal alien’ crimes in Georgia and would be a certain deterrent to illegal immigration here. And it would save jobs.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Georgia contains more illegal aliens than Arizona and as a state ranks seventh in that population in the nation. An estimate from 2010 was that illegal immigration costs Georgians about $2.4 annually.

SB 6 must pass out of the General Assembly’s Senate Public Safety Committee – chaired by state Senator Tyler Harper (R- Ocilla) – and then see a vote by the full senate before February 29 to have a chance at becoming law. You can help.

Offered by staunch-conservative Senator Josh McKoon (R – Columbus), SB 6 contains a section that would require the GBI to make public the information it is already getting from the feds on the capture, incarceration and the release of criminal aliens. We would at least get a warning when more criminal aliens are set free in Georgia.

McKoon’s legislation also prohibits illegal aliens from becoming public school teachers, becoming lawyers or getting in line ahead of legal immigrants to receive instate tuition at Georgia taxpayer-funded universities.

The bill as originally written would have, in part, ended the current policy of rewarding illegal aliens with a Georgia drivers license.

What’s that? You didn’t know that some illegal aliens have been getting Georgia drivers licenses since 2012? They have. It goes like this: President Obama ignored congress during his 2012 re-election campaign and proclaimed a mass ‘deferred action on deportation action’ for illegal aliens who said they came here as children. Legislation aimed at that same amnesty process had failed multiple times in congress since 2001.

Called ‘DACA,’ Obama’s proclamation does not change the fact that the illegals are still illegals, according to the White House and federal law.

The DHS website makes it clear: “deferred action does not provide lawful status.” But Obama has given the deferred action recipients valid Social Security Numbers and work permits, which, according to pre-Obama Georgia law, qualifies them for a drivers license. And official Georgia photo ID cards. And many public benefits – including unemployment benefit eligibility.

It is confusing, but important to know that not all illegals with deferred action on deportation fall under the DACA scheme and visa versa. Deferred action has been around since the 1960’s but only used on a single case-by-case basis, and never intended for more than a million ‘victims of borders’ at one time. Deferred action on deportation is not found anywhere in federal law.

The thing about the organized crime of illegal immigration is that a lot of people make a great deal of money from it. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce boasted of killing a bill similar to SB 6 at the end of the 2014 session. Imagine the power of the combination of that lobby with “Big Ag,” the militant left defending potential future Democrat voters and the liberal “Big Media” and you get an idea of the current problems with even getting a first hearing on Senate Bill 6, much less a full, public vote in Atlanta.

That’s right. SB 6, pre-filed in November of 2014 has not been allowed a first hearing in Senator Harper’s committee. You can help with that.

Because of the lobbying power of Georgia business interests, the section of SB 6 that was intended to stop giving a drivers license to deferred action illegals has been modified to say that they can still drive legally, but the driving document given to them must be changed from looking almost exactly like the ones issued to Americans and legal immigrants. You know, the cards we use as ID when we vote. Or rent a car or truck. Or board an airliner. Or buy explosives.

Now, SB 6 would change illegal alien drivers licenses to a vertically oriented, brightly colored “Driver Privilege Cards” that would make it obvious that the bearer does not have lawful status. If you want to help with SB 6, my advice is to contact state Senator Tyler Harper. Pronto. His senate office phone is 404-463-5263. His fax number is 404-463-4161. His Ocilla number is 229-425-4840. His email address is Tyler.Harper@senate.ga.gov .

One more thing: Illegal aliens cannot get any type of drivers license anywhere in Mexico.

Editor’s note: D.A. King is president of the Georgia-based Dustin Inman Society and describes himself as “pro-enforcement” on immigration. He is not a member of any political party. Facebook: The Dustin Inman Society.

Photo: GALEO.Org Facebook

Atlanta Jewish Times

Letters to the Editor – Feb. 12, 2016
Record Reason to Stop Lopez

As a first-generation child of legal immigrants, I am sensitive to any immigration issues. I did not know that Judge Dax Lopez was Jewish until after Sen. David Perdue correctly blocked his nomination (“Perdue Blocks Court Bid,” Jan. 29). I reached the same conclusion as Senator Perdue based on Judge Lopez’s membership in GALEO and on his longtime support for illegal immigration and for taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants.

Besides Senator Perdue, other elected officials opposed the Lopez nomination, including the Georgia Chapter of Hispanic Patriots, at least five Georgia state representatives, at least nine Georgia state senators, and the Cobb County, Gwinnett County and Union County sheriffs.

A federal judge is nominated for life. Past actions are considered as part of the evaluation process. Judge Lopez openly advocated for illegal immigration and the so-called rights of illegal immigrants. Nominees for federal positions are held accountable for past actions and affiliations, and Senator Perdue correctly held Judge Lopez accountable for his past actions and affiliations.

The Anti-Defamation League’s long history of fighting anti-Semitism does not excuse attempting to connect Lopez nomination dots that do not exist. Instead, the ADL is inferring bias because people do not agree with the organization’s Lopez endorsement. Accusing D.A. King of anti-Semitism for campaigning against this nomination has no basis in truth or fact.

Illegal immigration costs the taxpayers of Georgia about $2.4 billion a year, of which $1.4 billion is for K-12 education, net of any taxes collected. Illegal immigrants depress the wages of minorities and take jobs away from unemployed American citizens.

— George Nathan, Atlanta   HERE