SPLC Denounces Georgia’s Anti-Immigrant Law

Today, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) denounced Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to sign HB 1105 into law.  The new law requires state and local law enforcement agencies to contract with the federal government to perform immigration duties, including detaining individuals Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) believe may be subject to deportation and creating a DNA database of immigrants in the state’s legal system. 

“HB 1105 is a costly anti-immigrant bill that forces state and local police to serve as immigration enforcement agents,” said Efrén C. Olivares, director of strategic litigation, SPLC. “This new law will have a far-reaching impact on public safety that will make our communities less safe.”
 
“People are less likely to report crimes, interact with police and seek government assistance related to public safety. We also are concerned that it will lead to more racial profiling and false imprisonment across Georgia,” continued Olivares. 

“Individuals and families in Georgia, regardless of their national origin all want to be safe and seek better opportunities for their families but HB 1105 makes those basic goals that much harder to reach,” concluded Olivares.

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