ATLANTA - The Georgia House has overwhelmingly adopted a bill that would outlaw sanctuary cities - places where officials are prohibited from reporting illegal immigrants.
The sanctuary cities bill passed the House on Wednesday 129-32. The sponsor, James Mills of Gainesville, conceded that no such cities formally exist in Georgia. But he said it was a ``pre-emptive strike,'' and the measure passed with little debate.
Meanwhile, the state Senate tabled a measure that would have allowed authorities to impound the cars of unlicensed drivers. The bill was widely seen as targeting illegal immigrants. Its sponsor, John Wiles of Marietta, said the bill was inspired by the death of Cobb County sheriff's deputy Loren Lilly, who was killed in a 2006 New Year's Eve traffic accident involving two illegal immigrants from Mexico. The driver lacked a license.
But there was bipartisan concern that the measure infringed on private property rights.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Posted: Wednesday, April 2nd 2008 at 4:10pm
