Georgia governor signs immigration crackdown

ATLANTA, (Reuters) – Georgia’s governor yesterday  signed a tough new state law cracking down on illegal  immigrants that is similar to one enacted in Arizona last year,  handing new powers to police in the southern U.S. state.

The law authorizes police in Georgia to investigate the  immigration status of criminal suspects they think may be in  the country illegally.

It also makes transporting and harboring illegal immigrants  a crime and requires many private employers to check the  immigration status of newly hired workers on a federal database  called E-Verify.

Republican Governor Nathan Deal said the measure, passed by  Georgia’s Republican-controlled legislature, will take a burden  off schools, hospitals and prisons by reducing the number of  illegal immigrants in the state.

“This legislation is a responsible step forward in the  absence of federal action,” Deal said during a signing  ceremony.

Enforcement of U.S. immigration laws traditionally is  handled by federal, not state, authorities.

The Georgia measure is the third crackdown to be enacted by  Republicans at the state level, following Arizona in April last  year and Utah in March.

Critics have argued that the Georgia law could discourage  tourism and overseas investment in the state and create a  shortage of farm workers to pick crops.

President Barack Obama last month criticized the Georgia  measure, saying, “It is a mistake for states to try to do this  piecemeal. We can’t have 50 different immigration laws around  the country. Arizona tried this and a federal court already  struck them down.”

A few dozen protesters gathered outside the Georgia Capitol  before the signing and more were planning to rally against the  new law at a nearby church Friday night.

J.P. Hernandez, a 20-year-old undocumented immigrant from  Mexico, said the measure will encourage profiling of Hispanics  by law enforcement officers.

“You’ll be innocent until you look guilty,” said Hernandez,  a restaurant worker who was 2 years old when his parents  brought him to the United States.

‘DARK DAY FOR GEORGIA’

In addition to concerns about civil and human rights  abuses, critics of the law said it could have serious economic  repercussions for the state.

“Today is a dark day for Georgia,” said Jerry Gonzalez,  executive director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected  Officials, or Galeo.

Opponents warned of a possible economic boycott to Georgia,  similar to one estimated to have cost Arizona more than $140  million in lost tourism and convention revenue last year,  according to one study by a liberal group.

They also predicted costly and drawn-out litigation similar  to what has unfolded in Arizona and Utah.

Last month, a U.S. appeals court upheld an earlier court  ruling that blocked key parts of Arizona’s law from going into  effect.

Among provisions stayed was one that required police to  determine the immigration status of a person they have detained  and believe is in the country illegally.

A federal judge temporarily blocked a milder immigration  law in Utah on Tuesday, the same day the law went into effect.

Deal said Georgia anticipates a legal challenge to its law,  which takes effect July 1, but said it was written to avoid the  “pitfalls” of Arizona’s legislation.

The governor told reporters he hopes Georgia will not face  boycotts but said those losses would be lower than the costs  the state currently incurs from illegal immigration.