Ga. State Senator Wants To Expand Illegal Immigration Bill

McKoon said there should be financial penalties for counties that release people living in the country illegally that the federal government has asked them to hold.

“We need action at the level of the federal government, but I’m not willing in the interim to have people murdered in this state by people because a local law enforcement agency says ‘I’m not going to honor an ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention hold,’ ” McKoon said.

McKoon’s proposal comes after the recent death of 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle in San Francisco. Her alleged killer had been released despite having an immigration hold.

McKoon accuses DeKalb, Fulton and Clayton counties of not fully cooperating with federal immigration officials. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Department says it holds those living in the country without legal permission at the request of customs officials if a warrant has been issued. Since December, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has said it would no longer hold people who are in the country illegally for up to an additional 48 hours that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency asked it to unless there was a warrant or probable cause.

McKoon also proposed banning those who are living in the country illegally from practicing law and gaining the certification needed to teach in Georgia’s public schools. In response to those items, the Latino Caucus for the Georgia Democratic Party released a statement that accused McKoon and the Republican Party of being out of touch, dangerous and hostile toward the Latino community.

McKoon also said there should be a registry of people living in the country without legal permission and that no one who is living here illegally should be able to receive in-state tuition at any of the state’s public colleges or universities. He plans to add the items to a bill he proposed last year that would prohibit those with deferred action status from getting a Georgia driver’s license.