Atlanta Weather

| Traffic

Search
Political Insider

Farmers get half their way in illegal immigration bills

5:42 pm January 27, 2011, by jgalloway

You’ll remember that last month, delegates to the Georgia Farm Bureau’s annual convention entered the coming debate in the Legislature over illegal immigration.

The farmers approved a resolution to oppose any measure that “discriminates against the farm worker” and puts farmers at a competitive disadvantage.

The resolution may already have had an impact. D.A. King, who is often at the state Capitol urging tougher approaches, pointed out this paragraph from a press release by state Sen. Jack Murphy, R-Cumming, previewing his legislation on the topic:

”Georgia’s agricultural industry, which relies on legal foreign workers for seasonal jobs, already must verify the legal status of workers, per federal regulation. My bill, therefore, excludes agricultural businesses from the E-Verify provision.”

King takes polite issue with the above. “The Ag industry is under no more mandates to verify the eligibility of the workers they hire than is Joe’s Bait Shop in Anywhereville, north Georgia,” he tapped out in an e-mail.

Farmers may think they fare less well under parallel legislation from state Rep. Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City. His House legislation is now posted here. We’re told that, in the end, the language making it a crime to “encourage” illegal immigrants to come to Georgia will be dropped. But it is still there.

Farmers are likely to be wary about the passages below. The wording reminds one of the state’s drug laws. Possession of one illegal immigrant would be a misdemeanor. Possession of eight or more would mark you as a dealer:

A person who transports or moves an illegal alien in a motor vehicle, where such person knows or recklessly disregards the fact that such person being transported is an illegal alien, shall be guilty of the offense of transporting or moving an illegal alien.

A person convicted of transporting or moving an illegal alien who moves seven or fewer illegal aliens at the same time shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000.00 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months, or both. A person convicted of transporting or moving an illegal alien who moves eight or more illegal aliens at the same time shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $5,000.00 or more than $20,000.00 or by imprisonment of not less than one or more than five years, or both.

And this:

A person who conceals, harbors, or shields an illegal alien from detection in any place in this state, including any building or means of transportation, where such person knows or recklessly disregards the fact that such person being concealed, harbored, or shielded is an illegal alien, shall be guilty of the offense of concealing or harboring an illegal alien.

A person convicted of concealing or harboring an illegal alien who conceals or harbors seven or fewer illegal aliens at the same time in the same location shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000.00 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months, or both. A person convicted of concealing or harboring an illegal alien who conceals or harbors more than seven illegal aliens at the same time in the same location shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $5,000.00 or more than $20,000.00 or by imprisonment of not less than one or more than five years, or both.

- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider

For instant updates, follow me on Twitter, or connect with me on Facebook.

  • Print

56 comments Add your comment

Pancho3

January 28th, 2011
7:32 pm

The mexican mantra

“Por La Raza todo. Fuera de La Raza nada” “For the race everything, outside the race nothing”

All of the laws should be enforced equally, regardless of race, religion, and/or national origin. That is with the exception of mexicans, and they should be above the law and exempt from the law. And the only purpose that a tonto gringo serves is to pay taxes to support the superior and noble mexican.

Anyone who disagrees with this philosophy is Xenophobic and a Racist.

Pancho

All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, Animal Farm, ch.10, 1945

VivaLaMigra

January 28th, 2011
7:49 pm

Two centuries ago Georgia “plantation” owners got their ultra-cheap labor from Africa. And, they had to pay slave merchants to bring them to Savannah. Now, the Cheap Labor just jumps the border from Mexico and shows up in Georgia under its own power. This sure is “progress,” ain’t it?

Mr. Neandrathal

January 29th, 2011
6:11 pm

I have a daughter who I hope will learn to respect the property of others as she grows up. If she should come to me with someone else’s toy, bicycle, etc., explaining that it was something that the owner has never used and won’t miss, am I going to let her keep it? The issue around illegal immigration is whether or not a large number of people who secretly took something belonging to others should be allowed to keep it. (A job that remains unfilled is an oppurtunity for the employed to change jobs, ask for more money, learn new skills, etc. Unfilled jobs have value to those who might fill them. Today we have something like 98% job oppurtunities filled, leaving millions of Americans scared to death of losing their job.)
The Bible says that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves, so accept from others what you accept from yourself. Or maybe a less demanding standard, don’t accept from illegal aliens what you would not accept from your own child. It’s pretty simple. My daughter can’t have the neighbor’s bike. Illegal aliens can’t have the job oppurtunities belonging to Americans.

Interested Observer

January 31st, 2011
2:10 pm

So, does this mean Marta, Amtrak, Greyhound, and other public transportation services must now check ID’s and documents before people can board?

Does our state legislature really think out of work Americans in Roswell or Calhoun are going to move their family to south Ga for a minimum wage, no benefit job?

nightwalker571

February 1st, 2011
12:37 am

atlanta=born illegal latino mexican. my heart just bleeds for ur plight. If it is so bad here in GA & USA get ur wet backs and swim back with ole jerry boy gonzales the liar, pimp, to ur country. We got along without u before and we can darn sure make it without u.

rr

February 1st, 2011
11:27 pm

Folks as someone in the Ag industry (read farm operator) ANYONE who says a farm can’t operate under H2A as it sits RIGHT NOW is lying to you – point blank – there really isn’t any other way to put it. What’s missing is the meager attempt at enforcement with penalties for those put YOU at risk. GA lawmakers (or breakers your choice) really need to get serious about this once and for all.
Sure it costs a little more up front if you have to provide along with and above a minimum wage; housing, food, medical and transportation to and from town once a week. And if the farm across the way DOESN’T do this and we sell our produce at the same price. Yes I’m running at a disadvantage and THAT chaps me all day long. BUT I know my workers aren’t bringing in TB to expose your kids to, I’m not burdening my neighbors with Emergency Room charges they pay for whether they buy my produce or not and my crew won’t be getting into drunken wrecks with my neighbors either. Its your wallet if you eat in GA, tell these leaders you want to spend your bucks with farmers who give a damn about their neighbors long term health and general welfare. One last point, if anyone really thinks immigration legislation is racially motivated – you’re wrong – its simply about dollars and responsibility. Responsible farmers like other businesses take care of their own operational expenses – they don’t expect the unofficial subsidy that illegal aliens provide.
ANYONE can gamble with someone Else’s money – feel lucky? Well do ya?

« Previous 1 2 Show All