Dustin Inman Society

SPOILER ALERT, Mar 13, 2020: Republican Speaker David Ralston did not allow a vote on HB 1083 on Crossover Day.

Insider Advantage Georgia
The Forum

March 12, 2020
Crossover Day will reveal much about House GOP, sanctuary policies

D.A. King

How “pro-enforcement” is today’s Republican state leadership on illegal immigration? With today being Crossover Day under the Gold Dome, Georgia voters will hopefully be allowed a clear view of where their House Reps stand on sanctuary policies for criminal aliens – in a state with more illegal aliens than green card holders. In an election year.

HB 1083 from Rep. Jesse Petrea (R – Savannah) is all set to go to the floor – assuming GOP House leadership gives the OK to move it from the Rules committee. We will know by midnight tonight.

Georgia Speaker David Ralston

Basically, the commonsense bill makes it illegal for any local or state law enforcement agency to refuse to honor an ICE detainer or to decline to notify federal authorities before release of a prisoner in who ICE has an interest. The well-crafted and simple legislation also says that Georgia law enforcement must allow ICE to interview prisoners under their control and outlaws any policies that prohibit “participation in any program or agreement authorized under Section 287 of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act…”

Rep. Jesse Petrea; Ga General Assembly

Amending and greatly improving the definition of “sanctuary” in existing law, it’s an extremely good bill, perhaps light on immediate punishment for local agencies and officials that violate the language, but that is something that can be remedied.

The fact that Petrea’s bill gives common, everyday individuals a method of redress against a government entity – including law enforcement – found to be in violation of the above if the violation causes injury or death by an illegal alien is a giant step forward. And it is driving the corporate-funded anti-enforcement mob crazy with fear and anger.

When this writer last looked, Petrea’s bill had nearly fifty co-signers including at least one Democrat. DeKalb County’s Vernon Jones is signer number four.

A very honorable mention should go to Freshman Rep. Philip Singleton (R – Sharpsburg) for his hard work on his own anti-sanctuary bill (HB915) that served to drive consideration of Petrea’s bill.

GA state Rep Philip Singleton
Photo: Georgia General Assembly

Readers here who may be wondering why they have not heard of this measure before now should know that while there is extensive exposure of legislation to reward illegal aliens with instate tuition and (inaccurate) coverage of a bill to end use of the legal and accurate term “illegal alien” to describe illegal aliens, no, the AJC has not done a story on HB 1083. So you likely read it here first.
Petrea’s public safety bill enjoys all the right enemies, including the usual suspects who are funded to fight against immigration enforcement with mindless and false howls of “anti-immigrant!” and “hate!”

Going in the opposite direction of sanctuary state California, and along with one of Gov. Brian Kemp’s campaign pledges on illegal immigration, HB 1083 will serve to save lives in Georgia if it becomes law. If it doesn’t, it will vividly illustrate the true values of the Republican leadership. Either way, tomorrow Petrea’s anti-sanctuary for criminal aliens legislation will no longer be treated as a secret by Georgia media.

If it becomes law, here’s hoping it is one of those laws that is actually enforced.

A political independent, D.A. King is president of the Dustin Inman Society, which advocates for final passage of HB 1083.
Here.