Immigration Politics: Georgia leaders not serious about addressing illegal immigration

A look at Georgia politics that says, as in other states, business trumps demagogic rhetoric

Ga. leaders not serious about addressing illegal immigration | Jay Bookman: "... policywise, the key to illegal immigration has always been jobs. Illegal immigrants are drawn to this country to work, and any serious effort to address the problem at its source must include an effort to stop employers from hiring them. ...

In that light, it will be interesting to watch what happens in the state Legislature to House Bill 87, sponsored by state Rep. Matt Ramsey of Peachtree City, co-chair of the Special Joint House and Senate Committee on Immigration Reform.

...as U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss notes, “an estimated 50 percent to 70 percent of our agricultural workforce is undocumented.” In effect, Ramsey’s language would criminalize a good portion of Georgia’s agriculture industry. Furthermore, it would require all Georgia businesses that employ five or more people to swear in a notarized affidavit that they have verified the legal status of their workers with the federal government.

Those are tough steps, but if enacted into law and enforced, they would probably make Georgia the most inhospitable state in the nation to illegal immigrants. As Ramsey himself says, “Either we’re serious about enforcing all of the laws as a state, or not.” The answer will be “not.”" Atlanta Journal Constitution