Opinion
May 2, 2024
“I can’t help but wonder what Laken Riley’s family thinks about this travesty.”
Lawmakers double-dealing on immigration
- UPDATE: May 3, 2024. GA Gov Brian Kemp (R) signed SB 354 on May 2 thus continuing the business-first push for dismantling long-standing law (OCGA 50-36-1) designed to stop illegal aliens from accessing occupational licenses in Georgia. As a state Senator, Kemp passed OCGA 50-36-1 out of committee as Chairman of the Senate Public Safety committee in 2006 and voted for the host legislation on the floor for final passage.
Dear editor
Conservatives who are thrilled with the state legislature for passage of HB 1105, the Georgia Criminal Alien Track and Report Act should be aware of another bill passed in the just-ended session. SB 354 is legislation that begins a process of disassembling an entire system designed to make life difficult for illegal aliens in Georgia.
Because sorting out and rejecting illegal aliens in the process of issuing occupational licenses is a package deal, ending the licensing process also eliminates the check for illegal immigration status. SB 354 does exactly that for some low skilled workers in cosmetology and barbering industry. Sponsored by Sen. Larry Walker (R-Perry) and pushed by the usual “We want more workers!” suspects in the state Capitol, this business-first legislation will result in more illegal immigration into Georgia. Obedient Republican lawmakers passed SB 354 with only two of them voting against it. Neither of them represents Coastal Georgia. Not many Republican voters want Georgia to be a great place for illegals to “live, work and raise a family.” I can’t help but wonder what Laken Riley’s family thinks about this travesty.
Sadly, nobody should be surprised if Gov. Kemp proudly signs Walker’s dangerous bill into law while assuring us that it’s “good for business.” But it is well worth the effort to ask Kemp to veto this one. SB 354 should be a cause of great shame for Republican voters if they remain silent. Kemp’s Capitol office phone number is 404-656-1776
St. Marys (here)
(Note from D.A. – Mr. Trent is a DIS friend and a retired Senior Special Agent of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (USINS). He served on metropolitan area drug, and organized crime task forces for many years and supervised special agents assigned to the Joint Terrorism Task Force. In addition, he spent ten years as a uniformed Border Patrol agent assigned to both the northern and southern borders. Mr. Trent’s final career assignment was as the Assistant Director, Enforcement Training, U.S. Immigration Officer Academy, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, GA. )
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