Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed new legislation that requires state police to report and hand over to immigration authorities individuals suspected of being in the country illegally.
The measure, known as HB 1105, was approved by the state legislature in March and represents a significant change in the immigration policies of the southern state of the United States.
HB 1105 states that jails must hold any individual suspected of being in the country illegally and turn them over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Additionally, the legislation imposes penalties on police officers who fail to notify ICE of the detention of an undocumented alien.
The push behind this law intensified after the tragic murder of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, on February 22 on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens.
José Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan, was arrested as the main suspect in the case, while her brother, Diego Ibarra, 29, was also detained for presenting false residency documents during the investigation.
The signing of this law has triggered a series of protests and controversies, especially by defenders of immigrant rights. They have expressed concern that this measure will generate fear and mistrust in the immigrant community, which could hinder their collaboration with law enforcement authorities and their willingness to report crimes of which they are victims.
The Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights organized a rally in front of the state Capitol to express their opposition to the new law. They argue that this legislation could create an environment of fear among immigrants and promote racial discrimination in the state.
The Laken Riley case and the subsequent approval of this law have fueled the debate on immigration at the national level. Both Kemp and Republicans on the US Congressional Judiciary Committees have demanded reports from the White House on the immigration status of José Antonio Ibarra and the circumstances that led to his release.
In response to this case and others like it, the US House of Representatives recently approved the Laken Riley Act, which seeks to force ICE to detain and deport immigrants who have committed minor crimes. This move reflects a trend toward stricter immigration policies across the country.
