ATLANTA – State Representative Jesse Petrea (R-Savannah) recently introduced legislation to provide a criminal penalty for sheriffs who refuse to follow Georgia state law on sanctuary policies. House Bill 1105, the “Georgia Criminal Alien Track and Report Act of 2024,” would make it a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature for sheriffs to disregard Georgia laws against “sanctuary” policies.
“These laws are currently being ignored by certain sheriffs who are sworn to honor and enforce state laws,” said Rep. Petrea. “Current state law requires Georgia sheriffs to report illegal aliens among confined individuals to the federal immigration authorities. However, this crucial requirement lacks teeth, as there are no penalties for noncompliance. With an alarming influx of an estimated 10 million illegal aliens who have entered our country in the last three years alone, the issue is more concerning than ever. Currently, Georgia’s state prisons house 1,579 criminal illegals with ICE Detainers, many charged with violent crimes such as child molestation, murder, rape and aggravated child molestation. This statistic excludes those currently housed in Georgia’s local jails. It is inconceivable to think that a sheriff would find it appropriate to flagrantly disregard state laws while holding others accountable. HB 1105 will ensure that all sheriffs are following current state law regarding illegal aliens in local jails.”
HB 1105 has been assigned to the House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security.
The full text of HB 1105 may be found here.
Representative Jesse Petrea represents the citizens of District 166, which includes portions of Bryan and Chatham counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2014 and currently serves as Chairman of the Human Relations & Aging Committee and as Secretary of the Game, Fish & Parks Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and the Health, Industry and Labor, Natural Resources & Environment and Public Safety and Homeland Security committees.
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