Augusta Chronicle

Georgia immigration checks got tougher with new year

By Dick Pettys | For Morris News Service Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010 ( Note: a similar news report was posted on the subscription Website Insider Advantage Georgia today as well – HERE )

ATLANTA — The well-publicized “Super Speeder” law passed in the 2009 session wasn’t the only Georgia law that took effect with the New Year last week. A tougher immigration law also kicked in Friday.

Supporters say House Bill 2, sponsored by Rep. Tom Rice, R-Norcross, clarifies and adds enforcement teeth to the state’s 2006 immigration reform act – officially called the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act (GSICA). Among other things, the measure requires all governments and official agencies in the state � and their contractors – to use a no-cost, internet-based federal database called “E-Verify” to verify that newly hired employees are citizens or lawfully present aliens.

GSICA also requires all local governments and agencies that administer public benefits to collect a sworn affidavit and use a federal database – the “SAVE” program – to verify the eligibility of all applicants for those benefits.

GSICA went into effect July 1, 2007. Compliance with the law has been described as “partial,” with many local governments either unaware of the law or confused about its requirements.

D.A. King, president of the Georgia-based Dustin Inman Society, which favors greater restrictions on illegal immigrants, has been monitoring compliance since 2007.

“In 2006, the Georgia Legislature passed a law that essentially says local governments must obey federal immigration, employment and benefits laws,” he said. “It was treated as an option. Last year House Bill 2 was passed and basically says we must actually obey the first law that says we must obey the federal law. ”

King said he was certain the Super Speeder law would be enthusiastically enforced to add a $200 fine on top of other penalties for drivers who are caught exceeding 75 mph on two-lane highways or 85 mph on Interstates. “We’ll be watching for the same on HB 2,” he said.

According to King, federal records show that most local governments and state agencies are using the employment verification tool. Few are using the SAVE database to check immigration status of noncitizen applicants for public benefits, he said.

From the Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010 online edition of The Augusta Chronicle HERE