Your morning jolt: Lawsuit to argue that new immigration law will criminalize acts of kindness
The legal war over Georgia’s new illegal immigration law begins today.
The lawsuit by the ACLU and other civil rights groups will be released this afternoon, but a few details are already leaking out:
– Much of the draft is the work of Keegan Federal, the former DeKalb County Superior Court judge;
– One of the main components is the allegation that the law will result in racial profiling, which should surprise no one. The filing will include this line: “All Georgians, and particularly those of color, will be compelled to carry additional paperwork on them prescribed by the State of Georgia at all times.”
– The lawsuit alleges that, even though the new law doesn’t go into effect until July 1, individuals are already being stopped by law enforcement officials, based on their appearance and ability to speak English.
– The suit will also focus on the new law’s ban on transporting or harboring illegal immigrants, arguing that the statute will expose legal residents of Georgia to criminal prosecution for acts of kindness.
In addition to the civil rights organizations, parties to the suit will include aTeamster official who says he regularly transports undocumented students, offers rides to undocumented day laborers to and from work sites, and drives undocumented individuals to church in his union-issued, 12-passenger van.
Then there’s the retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, now the leader of a multi-denominational group that serves 100 families, including illegal immigrants, offering English language classes, food coupons and direct aid.
Meanwhile, Georgia Public Broadcasting has this:
With a month to go before Georgia’s new immigration law goes into effect, training is underway for police officers, sheriff’s deputies, and others on its details.
An annual workshop on law enforcement issues brought together more than 70 people Wednesday on the campus of Columbus State University.
***
It doesn’t look like a heart attack will keep state Rep. David Lucas, D-Macon, out of a race to replace state Sen. Robert Brown. He was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, according to Macon Telegraph:
[Lucas] went to the hospital Sunday evening after suffering symptoms of heat exhaustion at the Soul Jam Fest at Henderson Stadium.
Doctors discovered he was having a heart attack when they examined him.
[His wife] Elaine Lucas said doctors performed surgery, removing two blockages and putting in two stents during the procedure.
She said Lucas has been told by doctors to rest.
He’s also been told to get more exercise and change his eating habits, she said….Elaine Lucas said her husband plans on returning to the campaign trail next week.
***
Many Republicans have speculated that President Barack Obama’s call for Israel to accept its 1967 borders as a rough starting point for peace negotiations with Palestinians will send Jewish voters in the U.S. rushing into the arms of the GOP.
This morning, Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia offers a concise refutation. From his Crystal Ball:
First, similar concerns voiced by political opponents about Obama’s support for Israel had little impact on Jewish voters in 2008; second, Jewish loyalty to the Democratic Party appears to be based primarily on the liberal views of most Jewish voters on domestic policy issues, especially on social issues; and third, the influence of religious conservatives and Tea Party supporters on the Republican Party remains a major obstacle to the GOP in attracting support from Jewish voters.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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187 comments Add your comment
Justin
June 2nd, 2011
10:47 am
I have a question? How can you be racis when everybody eats mexican food or go to there country to visit and what not! i live in cherokee county and it sucks nothing but racisims up there and im sick of it. i cant even go to the store with out seeing someone pulled over for nothing. Im african american mixed with white but to me so what what color you are?? i love everbody just the same! I had a great friend locked up a week ago for no license and they said he would be bonded and free by tuesday nut no they kept telling me diff info and now immgration took him thats b/s just because of his race! smh i cant believe America and ppl! im just saying…
Living by the Laws of the US
June 2nd, 2011
10:48 am
“Not only would I be happy to be given a ticket for this, or even arrested, I would frame the documentation to give to my niece and nephew as proof that I tried to make a difference.”
Crazy Uncle Living by Example is a hypocrit! Thank GOD you decided or were unable to have children!
John
June 2nd, 2011
10:49 am
In the case of the Nun she is harboring a CRIMINAL. It is no diffrent then if the nun opened her door to a murder. They are breaking the law. When you break the law you have to pay. Even when you run a red light you broke the law you pay a ticket. They are breaking the law DONT make excuses for Illegals. Would you say that a rapist should be set free cause the person was dressed inappropriately and deserved it. NO you wouldnt so why is it ok for someone to sneak into this country and then we have people make excuses for them. How would you fill if someone snuck in your house and then demanded you take care of them!!!!
6/2 – ajc.com – Your morning jolt: Lawsuit to argue that new immigration law will criminalize acts of kindness | Political Insider « GIRRC – Georgia Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition
June 2nd, 2011
10:49 am
[...] Your morning jolt: Lawsuit to argue that new immigration law will criminalize acts of kindness | Pol…. [...]
Old School
June 2nd, 2011
10:49 am
Let the profiling begin!!!! If you don’t belong here, you don’t belong here! Bring on the ICE agents and train all Police and Sheriff officers to enforce and deport.
INN (Illegal News Network)
June 2nd, 2011
10:50 am
Man framed in Gwinnett child killings to be deported
What began as an exciting extramarital affair for Antonio Cardenas-Rico turned into a nightmare when he was falsely accused of stabbing to death two of his paramour’s young sons in February.
Enlarge photo Vino Wong, vwong@ajc.com Antonio Cardenas-Rico
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Police offer teen driving class
.And even though he was cleared of those slayings within two days of his arrest, Cardenas-Rico’s troubles are far from over. He is scheduled to be deported to Mexico within 60 days, his immigration lawyer said Wednesday.
Cardenas-Rico, 27, remained in the Gwinnett County jail for three months after he was exonerated of the homicides on Feb. 12 because he had marijuana in the home where he was staying when he was arrested. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which partners with the county Sheriff’s Office to identify all illegal immigrants booked into the jail as part of a federal program known as 287(g), also placed a hold on Cardenas-Rico upon determining he was in the country illegally.
Cardenas-Rico pleaded guilty May 6 to felony possession of marijuana and was sentenced to 10 years of probation. He was released from jail May 17.
Cardenas-Rico is married to an American woman and has two children. His family lived in Las Vegas, and he sought to remain in the country with them. An immigration judge, however, ordered Cardenas-Rico to be deported within 60 days, his immigration attorney, Noah Pines, said Wednesday.
Police say Elvis Garcia, the father of a 1-year-old and 3-year-old twins, stabbed the boys and then himself to make it appear that they had been attacked at their Lawrenceville home. Only one of the twins survived with critical injuries. Garcia then claimed that his wife’s boyfriend did it. Cardenas-Rico, a professional mover, had been having an affair with the children’s mother for about three months, he later admitted in a jailhouse interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Within two days, investigators determined Garcia was the culprit. Garcia is being held without bond at the Gwinnett jail on murder charges.
truth
June 2nd, 2011
10:51 am
John,
Do you report your friends when they smoke weed in your presence? Do you turn yourself in when you go over the speed limit?
If you have such high morale, you should start turning yourself in to police. you know you ARE BREAKING A LAW so turn yourself in
Pelican Brief
June 2nd, 2011
10:52 am
@Justin…Food is a international language, much different then being racist..No parallel there..Also, your friend driving with no license, you know that is illegal, right? His release is based on the type of bail bondsman he has and once inside they will run id check to see if you have any additional outstanding charges. Then they will release him, not until everything is cleared.
Illegal is Illegal
June 2nd, 2011
10:54 am
These people broke our laws and came here ILLEGALLY!!! They should be rounded up and deported and the first place to look is the places in Roswell and Cumming where they hang out for work.
No Problem
June 2nd, 2011
10:54 am
“First of all there are a LOT OF WHITE people that are illegal immigrants running around in this country! THEY NEED TO BE CHECKED OUT!!!”
They are working as slave labor in coastal / beach areas all over the US. ALL ILLEGALS REGRADLESS OF SKIN COLOR OR NATIONAL ORIGIN MUST LEAVE!
RGB
June 2nd, 2011
10:55 am
My morale is high.
Should I turn myself in….to the ACLU…
It’s tragic that someone would assume that everyone has friends who smoke weed.
Guess that serves to illustrate another difference between leftists who feel they are responsible to no one and everyone else.
I Luv Legal Produce
June 2nd, 2011
10:55 am
@ truth
Breaking the law as an illegal alien is much more serious than when you broke the law shoplifting or drunk driving. You are probably still paying for your mistakes, that why you live your life as a pro-illegal blogger. You still have time to throw you illegal friends a going away party before they are arrested and deported! Either that or you are going to miss your slave labor.
Dave Gorak
June 2nd, 2011
10:58 am
“Racial profiling” is a red herring used by open-borders advocates to draw attention away from their real agenda, i.e., to block all enforcement of immigration laws that were created to protect American workers and settle for nothing less than amnesty. Through such actions, illegal aliens and their advocates have repeatedly shown their contempt for American sovereignty and the rule of law.
Dave Gorak
Executive director
Midwest Coalition to Reduce Immigration
La Valle, WI
Vote for Pedro
June 2nd, 2011
10:59 am
Stop being so judgmental and obnoxious and maybe people will actually like you and then some day you will learn some of your friends do in fact smoke a little weed now and then. They just don’t tell you about it now because they don’t actually like you. Nobody likes you.
Justin
June 2nd, 2011
11:03 am
How would u feel u couldnt go to a store cause ur white? u wouldnt like it there ppl just like u so dont take vaca to another country cause they dont want u there either!
Sixth Sense
June 2nd, 2011
11:03 am
@ No problem.
(Said in the voice of the kid in Sixth Sense)
I SEE WHITE PEOPLE AND THEY NEED TO GET CHECKED OUT !!!!
Hide yer wife, hide yer kids hide yer husband ! We gonna find you!
harold
June 2nd, 2011
11:04 am
Remember, the KKK don’t NEVER eat fried chicken. Yeah right.
Marietta resident
June 2nd, 2011
11:05 am
I see they are STILL playing the race card. When will people finally figure out the word “Illegal” means just what it says. It has NOTHING to do with what race a person is. I am so over the word “race” being used for everything that doesn’t fit someone’s agenda.
Juan Carlos Lopez Ramirez
June 2nd, 2011
11:05 am
Hi, I juan carlos from mejico. I came here illegally. for all of you who think this law is wrong thanks you, could you please send me some money to help me pay my rent and to buy food. i would greatly appreciate it. i have no money, no job, so please send me all the money you can and please help me pay my medical bills as well.
Chickens will Roost
June 2nd, 2011
11:07 am
Mexico, a 3rd world country, is glad to get rid of a few people. The USA has provided a better life for millions. The USA has not trying very hard, until the economy tanked and it became apart to state government just how much illegals were costing in entitlements.
A large number of 3rd world people levels the playing field (a redistribution of wealth). Cheap slave labor and a potentional for the entitlement class to stay alive is reason enough for a liberal.
I for one cannot WAIT for illegals to realize their worst enemy is actually their owner, a slimmy sick liberal!
DW (THE REAL ONE)
June 2nd, 2011
11:07 am
I love Aquagirl. TD, you’re a hopeless d0uche bag – go back to sleep and spare us your next stupid religious rant.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
June 2nd, 2011
11:09 am
Democrats are complicit in the Party of State’s service to fascist plutocracy, but the core of the “Republican” party is the same faction which gave the world Hitler and the Holocaust from their American collection plates through their correspondent bank, and Knight of Malta Prescott Bush’s finance of his fellow Knight of Malta, papal baron, Fritz “The Rockefeller of Germany” Thyssen. He got the nickname because all knew Bush’s money to the author of “I Paid Hitler,” came from the Rockefellers, the Vatican’s cash-flow repository in America. The Knights of Malta (the papal fraternity whose leadership openly claims to “run the Vatican”) practiced slavery of Jews for ransom on the Mediterranean Sea into the 1890’s and, of the 30,000 Nazi SS who evaded capture “through the Croatian priesthood and the Vatican’s “basement”) after WWII, issued 2,000 passports to Nazi SS officers to escape the Nuremberg War Crimes tribunal. Don’t think intelligent Jews will be voting for another Holocaust any time soon.
Justin
June 2nd, 2011
11:11 am
@Pelican Brief
I understand just wrong i have friends in law enforcements and they think its wrong. im not saying its not wrong for them to cross the border but what about the kids who came here cause of there parents and lived her so long not have to go back??? thats wrong or the ppl who work and trying to help our country but have to get sent back now we dont have ppl to work the farms and so on… do u wanna work 40hrs a week on the farm? to them its like a 16th floor office job with an ocean view just think about that stuff they are actually helping us..
Pelican Brief
June 2nd, 2011
11:12 am
@Bloggers…If I understand this correctly, its ok to “racial profile” Muslims, but we just dont want profiling when it comes to the nation borders and illegal immigrants? Cant have it both ways!!!!
Pelican Brief
June 2nd, 2011
11:15 am
@Justin, If parents came here illegal, to me then the kids are here illegal as well. If they wanted to give their kids a chance at the American Dream, then they should do things by the book and make it legit. As far as the farm work, I strongly believe that each state should have an illegal workers program available to assist in their state needs. Maybe a 6 month seasonal work visa, this is available now, but they have to apply legally.
Chris
June 2nd, 2011
11:17 am
That confirms it. We are heading down the same path as Nazi Germany. Pretty soon everyone will have to present papers or face the concentration camps called prison.
E equals MC Hammered
June 2nd, 2011
11:20 am
I surprised the blacks are so upset over this. The browns came here and took the jobs they use to fill.
Laws
June 2nd, 2011
11:21 am
Forget all this flamboyant idealisms….are we going to be a nation of laws or not?
WiseONE
June 2nd, 2011
11:21 am
I say we run the US into the ground, accept all illegals, forget about the constitution, turn this country into Mexico.
Justin
June 2nd, 2011
11:23 am
Pelican Brief
I agree my gf is from mexico and we are seeing a lawyer to get her papers and doing everything one step at a time and she grad. from kennesaw high and shes proud to be here in the states so i deff agree with u just somethings we do i dont agree im from germany and its not like that there but i agree with u..
Wolverine
June 2nd, 2011
11:24 am
Over 60% of illegal immigrants deported from Dearborn, MI are citizens of Lebanon. This is not a AZ or GA problem, it is a problem all over the US.
American citizens all over the country support our southern neighbors and the efforts they are taking to get rid of all illegal aliens that have destroyed our country.
9/11 didn’t have to happen. Our immigration laws play a huge part in what has happened to our country.
For those of you that want illegals to stay and further destroy our country, shame on you! Your hatred toward the US and it’s laws is just sickening. You have failed so you want the US to fail along with you. How pathetic!
Justin
June 2nd, 2011
11:24 am
@Pelican Brief
PS: SHE PAYS HER TAXES SHE HAS AN TAX ID LOL
Contractor
June 2nd, 2011
11:26 am
DTA,
You get your information from Wikipedia? Who are you, Michael Scott from The Office? Get a better source before you come to the table with some information. So if you want to try and mention a that, let’s talk about some negatives. What about all of the drugs, murders, and convicts that are incarcerated in our prisons? What good have they brought, and how much tax revenue are they eating up, when they shouldn’t even be here? The evidence is out there to see that something has to be done, and you folks that want to give everyone a free ride need to understand that there isn’t enough to go around. There are too many people already waiting for handouts and illegal immigrants shouldn’t be the ones with their hands out or costing us American taxpayers a damn penny.
ExGeorgian
June 2nd, 2011
11:26 am
I guess in July 1st they might as well reinstate the southern flag and put a black swastika on it instead of the white cross. America’s is turning slowly but surely into a racist country. How long it will take before the same law will go into effect n every other state ? 10, 20 years ??? The leaders of the free world will soon put a cop behind every person legal or illegal… what a shame !!!
Summer Camp
June 2nd, 2011
11:26 am
“Pretty soon everyone will have to present papers or face the concentration camps called prison.”
My docs are in order, guess Chris’ are not! Have fun at Camp Chris, your illegal friends are waiting for your arrival!
Pelican Brief
June 2nd, 2011
11:28 am
@Justin….Good for your GF.. See its not an impossible task to ask. For the betterment of family and a better opportunity for kids its a small price to pay for most..
Justin
June 2nd, 2011
11:28 am
@E equals MC Hammered
Actually the whites brought the blacks here to work for whites i mean thats what i learned in school but now yall dont have a receipt to return the blacks back to where they came from haha
Aquagirl
June 2nd, 2011
11:31 am
….are we going to be a nation of laws or not?
Yes, now that it’s convenient to us. Back when the economy was booming, not so much. You can sit back in your McMansion (affordable because of cheap illegal labor) and relax with a crystal clear conscience, Mr. Great American.
Contractor
June 2nd, 2011
11:31 am
Justin,
The problem comes in when those kids grow up, they understand what’s right and wrong, but they don’t correct their parents mistakes and file for citizenship. They eat up tax dollars when they are enrolled in our public education programs, and some even go to college on the government’s dime. Then they have kids and the cycle continues. There are always sad occurrences when it comes to these kinds of situations, and unfortunately their family should have loved them enough to go about it the right way, knowing full well that deportation was a possibility.
PMC
June 2nd, 2011
11:32 am
So what is the additional paperwork that people have to carry?
JT
June 2nd, 2011
11:34 am
Aiding and abetting, and harboring fugitives from the law are AGAINST the LAW….period…
harold
June 2nd, 2011
11:35 am
Yes let’s do be a nation of laws, starting with our Constitutional law spelling out freedom from unwarranted search and seizure.
You say the Constitution does not protect the rights of illegals, huh.
How do you know if somebody is legal or not until you have already searched and seized them? Oh golly, you can’t know until it’s too late.
Whoops you were legal! Uh. You were searched for your own safety. You should thank us for doing our jobs keeping you seafe. Good day. And watch yourself next time, pal.
Mr Sandman
June 2nd, 2011
11:37 am
I was out boating on lake lanier, in hall county. I was pulled over by the police for boat registration, they asked for my DL which i left in the car. I told them it was in the car, the next question they asked me where i was born? I looked at him and asked if he was serious.
I know hall deports, so yes they profile like crazy. My parents are Mexican and in the country LEGALLY!! As well as i am. I think with this law its only going to get worse for everyone. Keep in mind their are alot of Asians, Hmong, Chineese and so forth here illegally, it just isnt mexican.
I really think they using peoples fears of no jobs on illegals. Look at the bigger picture!
Willis
June 2nd, 2011
11:40 am
Thank God for the ACLU. Otherwise the police state would win.
gsmith
June 2nd, 2011
11:41 am
the arguement for that the aclu and illegal immigrants make for their case is not logical ! it makes no sense
Firewoman
June 2nd, 2011
11:42 am
… You can sit back in your McMansion (affordable because of cheap illegal labor)
Aqaugirl, your double-wide trailer is worth about what you paid for it back in 1999. You seem a little pissy that you could never afford a McMansion. Bet you can’t afford to pay for legally picked produce, either. Such a pity poor Aquagirl!
C’mon girl, spout out some hateful liberal retort. Key words you could use are as follows: racist, redneck, Christian, etc….
Pelican Brief
June 2nd, 2011
11:42 am
@Harold…People have the luxury of trying to disect our constitution, and by law they have a right to challenge it. But, its the main thing thats seperate us from animals and others tryng to impose of americans. Sorry you feel the law enforement do you a disservice, but you do sleep safely at night, right?
Obama
June 2nd, 2011
11:42 am
Contractor,
Here are some facts for you. Everytime an Illegal person pumps gas they pay taxes, everytime that Illegal goes and buy clothes they pay taxes, everytime that Ilegal goes to a restaurant, guess what? they pay taxes. In 2000 the state of California made over 30 million dollars from Illegals Aliens, that amount over compensate the “free health care, food stamps, etc..” My question is California got all that money.. Do you know where the money is?? Well nobody does.. ummm maybe the goverment took it.
Jessica from Brazil
June 2nd, 2011
11:43 am
I am Hispanic. I am here legally. I have never been in any country illegally. I pay a lot in taxes. I pay a lot for my car insurance. I have no problem carrying id to prove that I am here legally…. as long as everyone has to do the same thing.
The only thing I find offensive is those that are here illegally taking resources away from those of us that work hard and pay taxes and give people like me a bad name.
Justin
June 2nd, 2011
11:43 am
@Contractor
I know but some also pay taxs and they a illigally but kids are also have a right to education. why are we helping kids over seas then?? they arent Amaricans? but are taxs are PAYING FOR ROADS IN ANOTHER COUNTRY..