Whitfield County Republicans censured state Rep. Kasey Carpenter, R-Dalton, after he voted against a measure requiring local governments to cooperate with federal immigration officials and he accepted tax breaks for a hotel development project.
House Bill 1105 would require local jail officials to check the immigration status of inmates and cooperate with federal immigration officials, and it would prohibit local immigration sanctuary policies. The legislation was passed by the Georgia Senate and House and awaits Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature. Carpenter was the only Republican to vote against the Georgia Criminal Alien Track and Report Act.
Carpenter, who represents a district with a large Hispanic population, said he was concerned the bill would promote racial profiling and could expose sheriffs and local officials to litigation for immigration lawsuits.
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“We have incidences in this community where an individual with a busted tail light has been deported only to leave behind three kids for the state and community to support,” he told a reporter in a private message on social media.