A bill that requires law enforcement to collaborate with the Department of Homeland Security to enforce immigration law, a practice that is unique in Georgia, needs one more day to complete.  ,
Republican lawmakers want states to impose more immigration obligations, citing Secure Communities and the federal 287g program, both of which are associated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE).
One piece of HB1105 would have ICE word native officers to discover, hold and process noncitizens for deportation. Two counties joined the 287g system after six years, and two other Georgian provinces are now parties to similar agreements.  ,
Oconee County’s Sheriff’s office entered into an agreement with ICE in 2019.  ,
According to Sheriff James Hale Jr.,” We have a number of certified harmony officers that work in the prison who have completed the training system with immigration services and are credentialed permit support officers who can assist those detention warrants.”
Under the 287g, Oconee County’s” Warrant Service Officer Program” allows people who have been detained and have their prints taken to use state and federal databases. If ICE wants to prosecute an arrested noncitizen, it informs the sheriff’s department by issuing an immigration ejectment.
Immigration officials believe there may be a reason to arrest the noncitizens because they issue immigration detainers on noncitizens who are being detained on criminal charges. When the person is released from the local jail, ICE detaches them and decides whether to evict them.  ,
Hale said,” We’re not over here looking for illegal persons only to send them to prison for expenses just so we can find them deported or anything like that.” ” It’s more of us doing our piece”.
Cobb and Gwinnett Counties both signed up for 287g initiatives at the beginning. Both regions discontinued the applications after years of expat privileges advocacy and newly elected Democratic officers. Plus, the demographic makeup of each area had changed.  ,
Advocates claim that partnerships like this heavily target non-white people who are required to show legal status when confronting officers.
Regardless of legal status, law enforcement in Cobb County wants to ensure that everyone feels free to call the police or survey any information they may have about a crime if they are the target of one.  ,
Carlos Garcia is the coroner’s Latino contact.
” All of us want to sit in a safe and secure community”, he said at a press event in Mariette,” but when we marginalize a certain individuals for their legitimate position, we create an issue for everyone”.
Before it goes to the governor, the legislation must have the House’s final approval.
