Nathan Deal says he’d implement Arizona-style immigration laws

Arizona just took its place in the Georgia race for governor. This from a press release issued by the Republican campaign of Nathan Deal, the former congressman:

“I agree with the Arizona governor and Legislature that the federal government has failed miserably at protecting our borders and enacting sensible solutions that would protect our states, counties and cities from bearing the enormous costs associated with illegal immigration, from emergency room visits to public schools to the criminal justice system,” said Nathan Deal. “As governor of Georgia, I’d work to pass and sign similar legislation.”

The necessary background from the Associated Press:

Under the new Arizona law, immigrants unable to produce documents showing they are allowed to be in the U.S. could be arrested, jailed for up to six months and fined $2,500. That is a significant escalation of the typical federal punishment for being here illegally — deportation.

People arrested by Arizona police would be turned over to federal immigration officers. Opponents said the federal government could thwart the law by refusing to accept them.
Supporters of the law said it is necessary to protect Arizonans.

The state is home to an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants and is the nation’s busiest gateway for people slipping into the country. [Arizona Gov. Jan] Brewer has ordered state officials to develop a training course for officers to learn what constitutes reasonable suspicion that someone is in the U.S. illegally.

More from Deal:

“It’s perfectly appropriate for state laws to complement federal laws. States are within their 10th Amendment powers to draft laws that deal with a huge, dangerous problem.

“States along the southern border have faced war-like conditions triggered by the violence of drug cartels,” Deal continued. “What we’ve seen historically in Georgia is that problems trickling over the border eventually flood over the border and strongly affect our state.”

Don’t be surprised if other Republicans quickly join in.

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172 comments Add your comment

June

April 29th, 2010
10:35 am

Make the Arizona bill standard in every state in the union! Demand that the SAVE Act and E-Verify be mandatory for all businesses and individuals who employ illegals. Eliminate the misinterpreted 14th amendment. Jail employers who hire illegals and bar landlords from renting to them. This ought to take care of most of the problem. Those who are foolhardy enough to stay can start building the fence, then will be deported. After that, line the border with military. Not too many illegals want to come face to face with a big, tough Marine! Then, tell the countries whose leaders and people laugh at our laws that we will no longer be their dumping ground.

Maria Sanvelacruzherntinez

April 29th, 2010
11:51 am

It makes me laugh at the hypocrisy of the liberals when they claim conservatives are reacting irrationally to the problem of illegal aliens when they themselves are going into histrionics about AZ becoming a Nazi state, the false claim of microchipping illegals and claiming the passing of the new law is legal racial profiling. Knuckle-dragging neanderthals every one of them.

GO ARIZONA!!!

Jimi

April 29th, 2010
12:11 pm

Just another paper law. Like those “other” paper laws, expect zero enforcment nor funding. This is the game. Pass meaningless laws to placate the population while allowing business as usual.

It’s certainly not enough to get upitty about. The last US President to atually enforce US immigration laws was Ike Eisenhower. That will not happen again due to PC, ‘political cowardice’.

The USA will become an hispanic nation by 2050. Don’t believe it? Check with the census dept. for proof. Anyone that doesn’t like it should leave.

Republican Dawg

April 29th, 2010
12:56 pm

Now that Deal has spoken, watch the rest of the GOP also-rans jump on board. Oxendine will try to be more conservative and make another outlandish comment that makes even people who agree with him shake their heads in disbelief…Handel will be for it before she ends up against it. Johnson will say something, but no one will be paying attention to him any way….

NewYorkRikan

April 29th, 2010
1:40 pm

The Sad Thing is That most of the republican people here only refer to “mexicans”
as if mexicans were the only people that came to the USA undocumeted, There are
French, English, Irish, Spanish, Portuguese, Italians, Australian, Rusians,
German, etc….. All white people whom just blend in perfectly with the kind of population
our republican friends would like to have living among us, and is ok for them to be here
because they came here legally even if they over stayed their visiting permits, but they came with a visa so they did the right thing. Now for those critics that think that’s ok wouldn’t it be the same thing? crossing iligally or just taking advantage of the fact that you over stayed your tourist visa because you fooled an ICE oficcer making him believe you were just coming for a few weeks but had in mind all along to stay here for ever.
now on the other hand we have all those “mexicans” that may actually be Guatemalans, Puerto ricans, Cubans, Colombians, El Salvadorians, Ecuatorinas, Brazilians,Agentinians, panamenians,
Peruvians, Real Mexicans or maybe an unlooky Asian who is misstaken by a funny looking mexican.
Now Counting illegals from all the world, there’s supposed to be 11 million undocumented people
personally a think there is a hell of a lot more than that what should we do with them, being realistic
we are not going to deport them, we are not going to put chips on them, They are going to keep working, their kids(most of them born in the USA) are going to go to school,They are going to keep driving with out a licence (because is unlawfull for them to have one), No licence means no insuranse, We keep pushing with our laws that are maakin us look like The new Nazy Germany.
Yet we keep making things worst. Personally I Believe that we should push for a real solution for this problem but lets make it a realistc solution.
sorry about my horrible spelling.

Amy

April 30th, 2010
1:06 am

Billy, you need to stop pecking. Go back and tell the liberals you were not able to divide us. Plus, Americans are all different pigments! I have enjoyed African_American_USA_Citizen posts. Thank goodness for the Internet because with all the misinformation in the media…I think Americans have found one issue most can agree on. Elected presidents could only dream of 60 and 70% of the votes. Comparing illegals to blacks is way off base. Illegals choose to break the law and come here! I am sick of the reasons/insults illegals give for justifying being here. Illegals are hard working; Americans are lazy. Illegals are taking jobs Americans don’t want; Americans prefer welfare. Illegals are law abiding; Americans are racists. Enough.

Amy

April 30th, 2010
1:14 am

Why enforce any law? Heck, sovereignty does mean anything. Yes, I am aware that individuals from all around the world have stayed/came illegally. Then there are the “idiots” who do things the correct way to become US Citizens. If I lived in another country, I would be one of those poor “idiots” waiting to enter legally. When individuals chose to have their children here, they knew the chance they were taking. I do not believe in rewarding bad behavior. It only brings more bad behavior. If this country, its people, and its laws are so horrible, then why are they dying to get in and hiding to stay?

[...] Nathan Deal, who recently resigned from the U.S. House on the heels of an ethics investigation, publicly called for enactment of an Arizona-style immigration system in his own state. And in South Carolina, Lt. Gov. Andre [...]

Joe

April 30th, 2010
5:28 pm

way too many useful idiots on this commenting board. Seriously, comparing enforcing our immigration laws to Nazis? Do you know what Mexico does to IT’S illegal Aliens? Smoking pot affects your brain, and is probably the reason you can’t make a rational thought, and can only repeat what is fed to you by your ‘progressive’ handlers. Wake up! Every legal Alien/permanent Resident is required to carry proof, and so is every American visiting another country….

Lola

April 30th, 2010
9:07 pm

Nathan Deal..Grand Dragon…just lost. Stop politicking cause you have just put your foot in your a**

[...] want to see such laws enacted there. Activity has started in Texas, Utah, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Georgia and [...]

.Mel

May 8th, 2010
2:15 am

In answer to Shawn, April 27th post… You carry ID on you at all times, don’t you? or most times? It’s called a driver’s license. Having a state issued driver’s license means that you have proved legal residency in that state. Legal aliens living in this country also carry ID – a card in their wallet – at all times. AZ isn’t asking for sheaves of paper – they are asking that you carry some form of ID stating that you are legally in the states. It’s not that hard. It’s not asking anything of them that the law doesn’t ask of us.

As for the majority of the other comments found here – all I can say is this: go live there before you judge the situation. You may think what the state of AZ has to say is crazy or stupid, but you aren’t in their shoes.

Besides, the state of AZ may think the same of the state of GA – a state with plenty of water (esp in comparison) who can’t figure out how to share said water supply with neighboring states. AZ lives on less than 6 in of rain per year and most of the state is a desert – yet they can successfully grow crops, fill swimming pools, water lawns, have fountains in their hotels, and, oh yeah, drink it with no problem.

Merely pointing out that each area of the country has its problems, and until you’ve lived for several years in that area, you might ought to keep your inane comments to yourselves.

Randy in California

May 11th, 2010
3:01 pm

Illegal is Illegal, this is not a “Mexican” thing it is about being in this country legally. It could be a Canadian as well… I think the other countries that can’t just “walk in” should sue the countries that can for unfairness HA

Randy in California

May 11th, 2010
3:17 pm

To Erick Sanchez April 28th comment- Dude, work here all you want just BE LEGAL, After I married my wife from another country we had to wait almost a year until she could come here…LEGALLY! REMEMBER, Illegal is not a race!

[...] Tim James wants everyone to speak English; Georgia’s Nathan Deal hopes to introduce a bill modeled after Arizona’s; and South Carolina’s Andre Bauer suggested that [...]

Paul Hamilton

May 12th, 2010
8:30 am

Either enforce the laws of our country or take them off the books. I’m tired of lazy Americans and fat politicians.

At some point some guy driving drunk is going to kill a bunch of people, and then cite that he should be given a free pass because our laws are not enforced evenly such as illegal immigration. Hey if a fat guy can sue a fast food company for making him fat, this is easily within the realm of possibility. We are Greece in the making.

Hey open the borders up and allow people that really want the American dream. Take away our welfare system and you’ll have many Americans up in arms because illegals have taken up all the jobs and the government can no longer support them.

News Update – May 12, 2010

May 12th, 2010
10:04 am

[...] Nathan Deal if elected Governor would back Arizona style immigration law in Georgia. [...]

Fire Eater

May 13th, 2010
5:28 am

Nathan Deal got my vote with his bold stand against the THIRD WORLD INVASION OF AMERICA. I look forward to ads depicting immigrant-gutted pestholes like Buford Highway, Gainesville and Dalton with a voiceover “…do you want this in YOUR community?” Third world immigration, really an INVASION, is the ONLY issue in this race.

Pat Buchanan was right when he stated if we had to take in one million immigrants from two other countries and were given choice of origin either Sweden or Somalia, it would be little mystery as to which group would be a better fit with CIVILIZATION.

To those whose heads revolve around and spit green bile at this analogy, I close with a reminder that the Founding Fathers passed the Immigration Act of 1790 to keep undesirables out of the US. Google it and enjoy.

Blue Dogs

May 17th, 2010
2:31 pm

I’m a white man and I too support the anti-immigration law Arizona just passed and I hope Georgia does the same here and maybe we should abolish the Voting Rights of 1965 by bringing back the poll tax to teach these welfare freaks a lesson.

Ian G.

May 19th, 2010
12:45 pm

Ever been pulled over by a cop ? What do they ask for ? License and registration or some form of I.D…..It’s the law ! So if you are afraid of it… then you must not have a valid I.D. and must be here ILLEGALLY, it’s very simple, not racist as the Mexicans want you to think !

ss

May 25th, 2010
1:11 am

OK number one, if we can’t find a job is because we are not willing to get paid the minimum or under the minimum wage, work over 70hour per week , work under unhealthy and unsafe conditions ,work with no health insurance ah and work with no coffee break; And this guys find a job because most Americans are too lazy or they have too much pride to do the DIRTY JOBS. Also if this guys find a job is because there are AMERICAN companies willing to hire these people with full acknowledgment of their legal status but they don’t care, as long as they make millions of dollars exploiting illegal immigrants. And also remember that this companies are AMERICAN OWNED. Let’s face it, how many times have you hired a “Mexican” to do your Yard Maintenance, just to save some dollars. It is not their fault that AMERICANS give them AND PREFER giving them jobs.
Respect to the violence DRUG DEALERS exist everywhere is not a Mexican, Colombian, African problem, there is AMERICAN GANGSTERS responsible for the violence, prostitution and other problems in places like LA, NEW YORK, CHICAGO. So the drug cartels in Arizona have nothing to do with the hard-working people from other states.Because there is AMERICAN PEOPLE who’s involved in murders, sexual violence, extortion and more.
So this laws are cruel, thoughtless and anti-american; Remember liberty and justice for all.

laverne moore

June 23rd, 2010
7:18 pm

JUST FOR THE RECORD I’M A BLACK FEMALE AND HAVE ALWAYS VOTED DEMOCRATE
BUT GUESS WHAT I’M FOR THE GUY WHO IS A REALIST, AMERICA IS BROKE , WE CAN’T SAVE THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND GUESS WHAT MEXICO IS THRIVING , WHY? FROM THE ILLEAGAL WORKERS WORKING IN AMERICA REELING IN THE HEARTBEAT OF AMERICA – JOBSSSSSSS

THERE GETTING RICH OFF AMERICA- THEY HAVE THERE CHILDREN HERE BECAUSE AMERICA PAY’S THE WAY – THEY DRAIN OUR RESOURCES – IE; THEY ALL HAVE FOOD STAMP CARDS BUYING FOOD AND WITH LOT’S OF KID’S YOU GET UP TO 1,000$ IN FOOD STAMPS PER MONTH JUST X THAT TIMES 25.000 ILLEAGAL IMMIGRANTS- THAT’S JUST A TID-BIT- HELL I CAN’T EVEN GET FOOD STAMPS – BECAUSE I MAKE 2$ OVER , BEEN HERE ALL MY LIFE AND A TAX PAY CITIZEN – HOW IS THEY CAN BENFIT MORE THAN ME- I’M THE WORKING POOR TO!!!!!!!!!!
I SUGGEST RESIDENTS OF GEORGIA GET ON BOARD WITH IMMIGRATION REFORM IE:LIKE THE STATE OF ARIZONA – NOT JUST FOR US BUT FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN
WE CAN’T SUPPORT ALL THESE PEOPLE IT’S A RESSESSION

LET’S SUPPORT AMERICANS FIRST
I’M VOTING FOR NATHAN DEAL FOR GOVENER

FAMILY I’M BLACK AND SO CALLED DEMOCRATE
BUT GUESS WHAT LET’S VOTE REPUBLICAN ON THIS ONE YALL