IMMIGRATION ISSUES FOR GEORGIA'S NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION

HB87 and immigration overall was a key topic during the recent legislative session in Georgia. For next year's legislative session, not a lot is expected to happen on legislation on new immigration issues, although there are a few proposals that will probably be discussed at the beginning of next year.
Some Georgia lawmakers (predominantly Republicans) who voted for HB87 are feeling the pressure from voters and would like to ease the requirements to help farmers, but I am not sure how that will be possible unless they repeal the entire law. Secretary of State Brian Kemp has lobbied for changes to help him and his staff deal with difficulties in complying with HB87 while issuing and renewing professional or business licenses. He would like to check documents only when new license applications are received, not for renewals and also would like to check the documents in a percentage of the cases as an audit mechanism, not for everyone. Right now according to HB87 it has to be done for everyone and there is not enough staff to do it.
A couple of other bills that will be considered next year is a bill that would bar undocumented immigrants from all state colleges and universities, which could possibly pass. Another bill would would require primary and secondary schools and medical facilities to record the immigration status of students and patients, which is probably either not going to pass or if it does pass, would face constitutional challenges.
It appears that Georgia Republicans are even worse than Alabama Republicans when it comes to immigration. Some prominent Alabama Republicans including the attorney general for that state have called for changes to HB56 in light of the public outcry and constitutional challenges.
I guess Georgia lawmakers would have to wait until the Supremes decide the Arizona case.

U.S. SUPREME COURT TO HEAR ARIZONA IMMIGRATION LAW CASE

The U.S. Supreme Court granted Certiorari (a writ to hear the case) in the ongoing battle of state immigration laws. Arizona's SB1070 will be scrutinized by the highest court to determine whether some provisions are constitutional, for example the provisions requiring all immigrants to carry immigration papers, the provisions giving power to the police to arrest suspected undocumented immigrants without a warrant or probable cause.
I am sure this will also have effect on the Georgia immigration law HB87 and Alabama's HB56.
It will take a long time before a hearing is scheduled.

ALABAMA IMMIGRATION LAW HB56 MAY BE CHANGED?

BIG news for our neighbors in Alabama. Fox Latino reports that "In the wake of growing criticism of Alabama's new immigration law business leaders, religious leaders and the federal government, the man who would be charged with defending the law in the courts, Alabama's attorney general Luther Strange, is suggesting that state lawmakers need to repeal some portions of the statute that have been put on hold by federal courts and to clarify others. In a letter to legislative leaders, Strange argued that the proposed changes would make the law easier to defend in court and would "remove burdens on law- abiding citizens." Strange recommended repealing a section that makes it a crime for an undocumented immigrant to fail to carry registration documents... He also suggested repealing the requirement that public schools collect information on the immigration status of students."
Yes, the Alabama law is bad, probably the worst in the country, and the legislature there is taking note. Too bad the Georgia legislators are standing idly by.
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2011/12/07/alabama-ag-calls-for-changes-to-state-immigration-law/

ARE REPUBLICANS REALLY OPEN TO IMMIGRATION REFORM?

Interesting news item as the Iowa Republican party primaries are under way, a survey among among Iowa Republicans who are believed to be among the very conservatives in the country suggests most of them are in favor of immigration reform and are not in favor of kicking out the immigrants, even the undocumented ones. The survey was done in collaboration between the Partnership for a New American Economy and a group of prominent Iowa GOP leaders, and its conclusions were that most Iowa Republicans favor immigration reform. Immigration was not even among the top issues for likely Republican caucus goers. For them the main issue is fixing the economy.
72 percent are open to allowing foreign-born students educated in the United States enter the workforce after graduation.
71 percent are open to increasing opportunities for entrepreneurs from other countries to move to the U.S. to start a business here.
66 percent are open to increasing opportunities for high-skilled legal immigrants to enter the U.S. workforce.
64 percent are open to streamlining the process for employers to hire seasonal and permanent employees if U.S. citizens aren't there to fill vacant jobs.
Only 16 percent of these mostly conservative Republicans were opposed to pro-immigration reform proposals.
What does it say about Georgia Republicans and HB87?
The poll can be viewed at the following link: http://renewoureconomy.org/2011_12_6a

HB87 CAUSES RESTAURANT LABOR SHORTAGE

Yet another development of HB87 in Georgia. A survey by the restaurant association in Georgia shows that most of the owners report shortages in janitors, line cooks and dishwashers since HB87 the anti-immigration law in Georgia was enacted into law.
What is the impact? Other than the immediate loss of jobs of the cooks and dishwashers, if the restaurants are missing those they will not be able to serve as many customers and may also have to let go other staff such as waiters. Currently the estimate is that a restaurant experiencing a shortage serves about 35 to 50 fewer customers a day but this might be getting worse. Because the revenues are down, these restaurants are not spending as much and cutting more labor.
Yes, and those same restaurants cannot fill the vacant jobs because Americans do not want to do them.
The immigrants that have legal status in this country like me have a lot of things to be thankful for this upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

FORMER GEORGIA SOS SPEAKS AGAINST HB87

Former Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox recently spoke against Georgia's anti-immigrant bill HB87. She said that bureaucratic delays of months that are expected to stem from HB87 could become catastrophic for people seeking professional licenses from the state and create direct consequences for small businesses.
The current secretary of state, Brian Kemp, estimated that enforcing the licensure part of HB87 could delay the licenses for tens of thousands of accountants, nurses and many other professionals by an additional three to four months, during which they cannot work (and nurses are in dire shortage). Each person applying for a license would be required to show identification in person which will delay turnaround time by 90 to 120 days. At the same time Kemp is asking for additional funding to hire more staff (another indirect tax and budget drain).
Georgia business leaders have raised concerns in recent days that the delays could slow down economic development at a time when the state can least afford it.
I applaud Ms. Cox' remarks. I will go even further and say that the law of unintended consequences is just that. There are far more reaching consequences of HB87 that the legislature had not previously thought about. There is no single positive thing that this legislation created. I am sure some additional unforeseen consequences will be revealed in the near future...

DEPORTATIONS SOAR NATIONWIDE BUT ESPECIALLY IN GEORGIA-ALABAMA AREA

The Obama administration is deporting much more people than his predecessor. Deportations in the South have increased by more than 300 percent, and even 500 percent in some areas since fiscal year 2005, much faster than the national average. Close to 400,000 people were deported in fiscal year 2011.
In the area that covers Georgia, the deportations increase the most dramatic, from 4,129 deportations in 2005 to 22,963 in 2011, ICE data shows. In the area that includes Tennessee and Alabama, deportations increased from 3,480 in fiscal year 2005 to 15,363 in FY 2011.
Most people are being deported for minor violations or none at all (only immigration violations which are civil in nature).
This data is shocking but validates what we all see here in the Atlanta area and the immigration court in Atlanta and Stewart: more rapid deportations of people, most of whom are not represented. Having a good attorney in deportation or removal proceedings increases the chance of remaining in the U.S. by more than double. Leslie Diaz is the attorney in our office that specializes in deportation defense. http://www.visalaw.com/atlanta.html
For the full article see:
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/nov/01/deportations-soar-nationwide-locally/?local