A worker plants Vidalia onions on a farm in Lyons, Ga. A Georgia state lawmaker on Thursday filed legislation that targets illegal immigrants in the work force and is drawing criticism from the state’s No. 1 industry, agriculture. (AP File Photo/David Goldman, File)ATLANTA – A Georgia lawmaker who has proposed a law that would crack down on illegal immigrants in the state went through his bill section by section Friday, taking questions from fellow members of a House committee.
State Rep. Matt Ramsey, a Peachtree City Republican, made clear during a hearing before the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee that the “Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011” is a work in progress. He said he welcomes anyone – including members of the public and special interest groups – with ideas or concerns about the legislation to speak to him.
The committee plans to take up the legislation again Tuesday, when it will open the floor for public comment.
Ramsey said he’s already made changes in the bill’s language since he introduced it last week, mostly technical changes following consultation with legal experts to try to protect the bill from legal challenges.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia already is threatening such a challenge. The group on Friday called on state lawmakers to reject any bill that is similar to a controversial law enacted in Arizona last year and said it would challenge the laws in court if they were to enter into effect.