Augusta Chronicle<\/p>\n
Georgia immigration checks got tougher with new year<\/strong><\/p>\n By Dick Pettys | For Morris News Service Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010 ( Note: a similar news report was posted on the subscription Website Insider Advantage Georgia<\/em> today as well – HERE<\/a> )<\/p>\n ATLANTA — The well-publicized “Super Speeder” law passed in the 2009 session wasn’t the only Georgia law that took effect with the New Year last week. A tougher immigration law also kicked in Friday. <\/p>\n Supporters say House Bill 2, sponsored by Rep. Tom Rice, R-Norcross, clarifies and adds enforcement teeth to the state’s 2006 immigration reform act – officially called the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act (GSICA). Among other things, the measure requires all governments and official agencies in the state � and their contractors – to use a no-cost, internet-based federal database called “E-Verify” to verify that newly hired employees are citizens or lawfully present aliens. <\/p>\n GSICA also requires all local governments and agencies that administer public benefits to collect a sworn affidavit and use a federal database – the “SAVE” program <\/a>– to verify the eligibility of all applicants for those benefits. <\/p>\n GSICA went into effect July 1, 2007. Compliance with the law has been described as “partial,” with many local governments either unaware of the law or confused about its requirements. <\/p>\n D.A. King, president of the Georgia-based Dustin Inman Society, which favors greater restrictions on illegal immigrants, has been monitoring compliance since 2007. <\/p>\n “In 2006, the Georgia Legislature passed a law that essentially says local governments must obey federal immigration, employment and benefits laws,” he said. “It was treated as an option<\/a>. Last year House Bill 2 was passed and basically says we must actually obey the first law that says we must obey the federal law. ” <\/p>\n King said he was certain the Super Speeder law would be enthusiastically enforced to add a $200 fine on top of other penalties for drivers who are caught exceeding 75 mph on two-lane highways or 85 mph on Interstates. “We’ll be watching for the same on HB 2,” he said. <\/p>\n According to King, federal records show that most local governments and state agencies are using the employment verification tool. Few are using<\/a> the SAVE database to check immigration status of noncitizen applicants for public benefits, he said. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n