By The opinion
On July 1, HB 1105, known as the Georgia Criminal Alien Tracking and Reporting Act, went into effect.which imposes new obligations on prisons, where they must detain any person suspected of being in the country illegally.
In response to this new provision, the Mexican Consul General in Atlanta, Javier Díaz de León, and organizations in favor of immigrants denounced this Monday the new immigration law of Georgia, which they consider lends itself to abuse and leaves the Hispanic community in uncertainty.
This Georgia community remains on edge after HB 1105 goes into effectpromoted by Republicans after the murder of a young university student allegedly at the hands of an undocumented Venezuelan.
Consul Díaz stressed today that his country condemns this type of anti-immigrant measures that “can lead to harassment, detention, expulsion and undue criminalization of immigrants.”
“It can also trigger an atmosphere of uncertainty, fear and vulnerability among the Mexican community in the United States.“, Díaz de León said in a message broadcast on social media.
The official promised that all consular and legal resources will be used to protect the rights of Mexicans in the state.
Although the measure went into effect on May 1, the same day it was signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp, several media outlets reported that it became effective this Monday, July 1, as traditionally occurs with most new legislation.
The news has sparked concern in the Hispanic community, as activists fear that this new law will lead to an increase in racial discrimination and attacks against people of color.
HB 1105 requires police and sheriff departments to verify the immigration status of detainees and notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). if they are undocumented, and also request their participation in the controversial federal agreement 287(g), which establishes a collaboration agreement with this federal agency.
Local agencies could lose state funding and their officers could face charges if they fail to comply.
Opponents warn that the law would turn local police forces into immigration police, making immigrants less willing to report crimes and cooperate with authorities.
Since the announcement of the law, the Mexican government, through its foreign ministry, has considered that Georgia’s law on monitoring and reporting criminal aliens could trigger serious consequences such as the separation of families, discriminatory practices and racial profiling, as well as the potential decrease in complaints to law enforcement agencies due to fear of immigration repercussions.
According to Mexican government data, Hispanics make up 11% of Georgia’s total population and contribute to key sectors such as agriculture, forestry, construction and services.
*With information from EFE
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