February 24th 2025.
Republican lawmakers in over 20 states are making moves to penalize local officials who refuse to comply with the Trump administration's directives regarding immigration. This includes the threat of legal action, fines, or even imprisonment. These lawmakers are specifically targeting sanctuary policies, which allow for noncooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
According to reports from The Associated Press, these legislators are proposing harsh measures for mayors, council members, and other government officials who go against bans on sanctuary policies in their respective states. Georgia state Senator Blake Tillery, a supporter of President Trump, explained that the goal of this push is to hold local governments and officials accountable for not following Georgia's immigration laws. He believes that these measures will give "teeth" to those who have been negatively affected by noncompliant officials.
Senator Tillery's bill, which permits individuals to sue those who enact sanctuary policies, has already passed the Senate and is now in the Georgia House of Representatives. However, not everyone is in favor of this bill. Democratic Senator Nikki Merritt expressed concerns that it could have a negative impact on the work of Georgia police officers, potentially causing them to violate federal limits on detaining immigrants. This is because a law passed in 2024 requires local law enforcement to cooperate with federal authorities in identifying and detaining illegal individuals, or risk losing funding. The new bill proposed by Senator Tillery essentially reinforces this existing statute by allowing citizens to sue local governments and officials for not adhering to the ban.
Immigration attorney Charles Kuck, based in Atlanta, believes that this entire situation is a result of President Trump's "war on immigrants." He sees these efforts to punish noncompliant officials as a way for local politicians to gain favor with the President, without actually solving any problems.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party is facing internal divisions on how to respond to the Trump administration's immigration policies. Some members support certain tough measures, such as the Laken Riley Act, while others are still undecided on how they will vote. There is also a progressive group that is actively resisting the Trump administration's actions regarding immigration.
Representative Sylvester Turner highlighted the potential consequences of deporting certain groups, such as DREAMers, who have grown up and contributed to society in the United States. He also voiced concerns about the possibility of immigration enforcement entering sensitive locations like schools and hospitals. However, he believes that there could be support for a bill that was previously supported by both Republicans and Democrats, which could potentially solve some of these issues.
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