ATLANTA — Republican state lawmakers searching for to assist President Donald Trump’s crackdown on unlawful immigration are threatening native officers who resist with lawsuits, fines and even jail time.
Lawmakers in additional than 20 states this yr have filed laws concentrating on so-called sanctuary insurance policies that restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities, in keeping with an Related Press evaluation utilizing the bill-tracking software program Plural.
A few of these states already ban sanctuary insurance policies however are actually proposing to punish mayors, council members and different authorities officers who violate the prohibition.
The purpose is to supply “teeth to those who are being aggrieved by local governments and local officials who are not abiding by Georgia immigration law,” mentioned Republican state Sen. Blake Tillery, whose laws would permit lawsuits in opposition to anybody who implements sanctuary insurance policies. His invoice just lately handed the Senate and is now within the Home.
Opponents are involved that the laws could lead on native police and sheriffs to detain immigrants for longer than they’re presupposed to below federal regulation out of concern of getting sued.
“We’re threatening our local law enforcement who are doing the best job they can to keep our communities safe,” mentioned Georgia state Sen. Nikki Merritt, a Democrat.
The state proposals come because the Trump administration additionally has begun taking authorized motion in opposition to governments which have adopted insurance policies inhibiting arrests and deportations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Division of Justice has sued Illinois, Chicago and Cook dinner County, alleging they’re violating federal regulation by not cooperating with immigration authorities.