(Georgia) House OKs seizing vehicles from illegal immigrants

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution

A bill that would allow police to seize cars from illegal immigrants was approved by the House Thursday.

Bill sponsor Rep. James Mills (R-Gainesville) repeatedly told House members Thursday the measure would protect Georgia citizens from the "epidemic" of illegal immigration. "The state of Georgia's door is being kicked down," Mills said. Immigrants are coming from "Iraq, Iran, Irania, Jordan. We don't know where they're from," Mills said.

The measure passed 104 to 51, and will move to the Senate for consideration.

The bill would allow police to seize any vehicle involved in a traffic violation or accident if it's driven by an illegal immigrant. That includes rented and leased vehicles if the owner knew, or should have known, the driver was an illegal immigrant. It also includes bank-owned cars if the interest-holder actually knew the driver was an illegal immigrant.

The bill prompted a healthy floor debate. Some legislators asked how police would be able to determine whether a driver was an illegal immigrant during a traffic stop. Some wondered if it would create an atmosphere for racial profiling of drivers who police think might be illegal immigrants. Rep. Bob Lane (R-Statesboro), who represents rural south Georgia, worried farmers would lose their vehicles if they lent them to workers who might be illegal.



Read more: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/02/28/vehicle_0229.html

[Bicoastal]

1. Are there a LOT of Illegal Immigrants in Georgia?

And if so, where do they come from?

[napi21]

3. I have no proof of "illegals" as differentiated from immigrants, but

Gainesville IS the chicken processing capital of the World, and it's extremely difficult to find anyone working in any of them who are not from Mexico. I will tell you that most of the workers in those plants live in horrible conditions. Old house trailers that are all rusted, and they have maybe 15-20 men living in each one. They work shift work, so when the ones who work the day shift are at work, the ones who work the night shift sleep in the trailer. I also have a good friend who works for a Gainesville utility. She filled in temporarily for the HR person until they found someone. She asked about several ID's that were presented to her by potential employees, and she was told it is not her job to decide if the ID is valid or not. If you are handed an ID, you take it, copy it, and give it back to the applicant. She told me some of the ID's are terrible copies and obviously not valid.

I live about 10 mins. south of Gainesville. I feel sorry for the folks that work in those plants because the employers are just taking advantage of people who don't have many other choices. However, ignoring the laws doesn't seem live any way to deal with the problem.

[aggiesal]

6. Floridians are immigrating illegally into Georgia!!!

:rofl: :sarcasm:

[Up2Late]

8. I don't know how many are "illegal," but most are Emigrants, not Immigrants...

...there is a difference. Immigrants intend to stay, Emigrants are usually temporary.

But to answer your question, this is just another stupid Bill my the Diebold delivered ReTardican House, passing a Bill that is about a year too late, seeing how, the housing construction market collapsed here almost a year ago, so most are probably out of work too, or moving back home on their own.

[RebelOne]

11. There are plenty of them where I live in Woodstock, GA.

And most of them are Mexican.

[Zorra]

12. Aren't they pretty much everywhere in the US? n/t

[RC]

2. Want to stop illegal immigration?

Impeach the bu$h administration and get our manufacturing jobs back into this country. Then jail who ever knowingly hires illegals. Want to work here? Apply and get a green card.

[Blue_Tires]

4. uh....where is the country called "Irania" located??

great job of race-baiting, Mills -- because we all know EVERY immigrant has dusty brown skin, speaks a strange language and has a heathen religion....

[RamboLiberal]

5. Irania - good catch - ROFL

so they take away their vehicles - how are they going to get to the lousy jobs places like the chicken plant another poster described?

It's a shame how we're allowing these employers to exploit these people. To me it's not much above slavery!

[Up2Late]

9. You know, it's right by Iranistan.

Duh.:silly:

Irania, Alla Help us! :banghead:

[President Kerry]

7. "Irania".. wow

And those are elected officials. That's just a shame.

By the way, Sweden has allowed in more Iraqi refugees than the US (which has only granted refugee status to a few hundred Iraqis over the 5 years), after we have thoroughly destroyed their country. To have Mr. Mills make such statements makes us look like laughingstock of the world.

Enough xenophobia already.

[Blue_Tires]

13. it is a shame

maybe it is time to start having intelligence tests for those running for office...i've had to take intelligence/aptitude tests for assembly line work, the state department, temp agencies, etc....

[Wabbajack_]

10. I don't like this whole car seizure deal

in some places don't they do it if they find a little pot, without even a trial?