Georgia immigration bill that would compel law enforcement to work with federal officials goes to Gov. Kemp

Georgia House Bill 1105, which would require local law enforcement officers to work with federal immigration officials, was sent to Gov. Brian Kemp's desk for final approval.

State Rep. Jesse Petrea speaks in favor of HB 1105 at the House of Representatives in the Capitol in Atlanta on March 28, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Jose Ibarra was arrested last month on murder and assault charges in the death of 22-year-old Laken Riley. Immigration authorities say Ibarra, 26, unlawfully crossed into the United States in 2022. It is unclear whether he has applied for asylum.

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Democrats raised concerns it would turn local law enforcement into immigration police, making communities less willing to report crime and work with them. They have also pointed to studies showing immigrants are less likely than native-born Americans to commit crimes.

House Republican Jesse Petrea said on the floor Thursday that the bill was asking law enforcement only to work with immigration officials when someone has committed a crime and is in the country illegally.

"I don’t believe anyone in law enforcement believes that’s too much to ask," he said.

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