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
elroy
June 2nd, 2011
12:45 pm
“This is again the ACLU demonstrating that they are out of the mainstream and out of touch with the concerns of average hardworking Georgians,” & the lawsuit argues it Bill is a betrayal of american values. Makes no sense. the people arguing against the bill aren’t american. & most of us came from immigrants has no merit as it’s not the 1800’s any more. Times change & now is time for those that shouldn’t be here to go back to their own country.
Not So Casual observer
June 2nd, 2011
12:48 pm
@ Obama,
Your assertion California takes in $30 Million in taxes from illegals is amusing. The city of Los Angeles loses billions of dollars every year on the illegal population. The rest of California loses billions more.
How do you address the claim by the illegal population of the United States that portions of the West and Southwest belong to Mexico and the plan is to restore Mexican control over these states? la raza indeed!
The claim by Aquagirl that the laws were not enforced ten years ago so we should ignore the problem now is ignorant beyond belief. I will wait to hear from Aquagirl when her family suffers from the drunk driver who just happens to be illegal or when she is forced from her home by burdensome taxes to support the illegal population.
All of you who support illegal immigration should be volunteering to pay their expenses, assist them to legal status, take them into your homes, feed their children, and take responsibility for their medical expenses.
To argue the US used the illegals and should now support them is infantile.
Contractor
June 2nd, 2011
12:49 pm
Obama,
My stats are flawed? I guess seeing the bill of my child’s birth at Kennestone Hospital with my very own eyes is not good enough evidence? I guess the Georgia Department of Education isn’t a good source either?
Contractor
June 2nd, 2011
12:50 pm
Obama,
Your $30 million dollar statistic is a drop in the bucket compared to this…
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/immigrationnaturalizatio/a/caillegals.htm
Take a quick look at the cost of educating these illegals as well…
http://www.mnforsustain.org/immg_costs_of_educating_legal_illegals_fair.htm
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
June 2nd, 2011
12:56 pm
The nun’s story would tug one’s heart were it not for the fact that her church runs ads in Spanish on the radio explaining to the illegals how to get welfare in our country. The illegals are pawns, unfortunate as they may be to have to return to their country to overthrow the Old Sectarian Order’s regime of king and pope to share in the American Dream, as we had to in 1776: they are pawns in the Roman false-elite Fifth Column’s published stratagem to “taking back” America from those their literature claims “stole it” from the ancestors and co-religionists of Hispanic Roman Catholics.
We must arrest this tax-free treason and those subverting the Constitution in Congress and on the SCOTUS. Any patriot can read a copy of their marching orders for taking over America through the promotion and protection of illegal immigration, legal aid, naturalization/amnesty, and voter registration to “construct the Kingdom of God in the United States:” The National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry” is a the Library of Congress, your local RC diocesan library and at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/National-Publication-Publishing-Promotion-Conference/dp/1555861997
The nun is doing what her priest told her to do. He was told by his bishop, who was told by his cardinal. It is a quasi-military organization…and “they” know what “they” are doing. If we allow them, they will continue to attempt to “gaslight” the rest of us as they repeal the American, liberal, revolution against the Old Sectarian Order of king and pope, which, since time immemorial, ruled the world before Our Founders’ broke free to make the Individual sovereign instead of a chief, pedophile priesthood, or potentate.
Voting for future
June 2nd, 2011
1:03 pm
You know, I get pulled over and they want to see my drivers license, no big deal its the law. Legals carry the same thing and a visa if they are here legally. Should be no big deal with them either. However, illegals carry nothing and take everything. Theres the big deal. I dont care about profiling any more. I want the laws carried out. Im tired of the high taxes for people who pay nothing and take it all. Whens it the working Americans turn? No really, when is it our turn?
Matt
June 2nd, 2011
1:03 pm
Perhaps we should just all move to Mexico and get it back on track. Leave America to the idiots and watch it burn. Plus Mexico has great beaches!
mum
June 2nd, 2011
1:07 pm
Yes, illegals do pay all variety of taxes as mentioned before by using forged documents. Also, please remember that illegals come in all colors and ethnicities. One thing people fail to know is that legal residents are not citizens, but they too pay social security, etc. Immigration is a huge business in this country so don’t beat up on the ACLU since lawyers make a fortune on this and so does the government. With residency application fees going up every year, and the application fee for citizenship at almost $1,000 per applicant. As to the guest worker program, it’s been in existance forever so nothing new there. For those of you who have a problem with people having multiple children, remember that many religions prohibit the use of birth control so this is the result.
Texas Tea
June 2nd, 2011
1:13 pm
mum,
“For those of you who have a problem with people having multiple children, remember that many religions prohibit the use of birth control so this is the result.”
So that should come at OUR cost?
Ryan Shakur
June 2nd, 2011
1:13 pm
I wonder what any of you would do if you see a man; injured and laying on the side of the road. Would you check his ID before you help him? Would you need to run him through e-Verify to be sure he is who he says he is? Or would you just simply help? It is marvelous to see that in today’s society, we have ignored the acts of kindness and understanding to pass judgment on those we only know by virtue of STATUS. “Illegal” would best describe your “settlers” of this nation…yet we look past history to condemn and demonize these people. I can’t defend everyone in GA who is “illegal” but I can say this, you that place the square blame on all of the “illegals” ought to be blaming the founders of such an institution: your FOREFATHERS. Because not all of them were bad people with bad intentions; but ALL of them were to blame….well, you get the picture
Norcross
June 2nd, 2011
1:19 pm
I just learned that the ILLEGAL family that lived down the street from me here in Gwinnett is being foreclosed on! How in the heck does an illegal alien get to purchase a home in the US? I would not have believed it if I were not shown the facts in the public notice section of the local newspaper. Upon further review of the listing, most of the names on this LONG LIST are not JOE SMITH, they are mostly immigrants.
No wonder the foreclosures here in ATL won’t go away! I have just about had enough with what we have had to endure with illegals and their constant taking from US. I am willing to suffer through more pain and money to see that they are all sent back to what ever country they came from.
It is sad what our federal government has done to us, now the stats are having to clean up their mess.
Frederick Douglass
June 2nd, 2011
1:20 pm
What Larry Sabato said about the Jewish vote is exactly what I said two weeks ago. Obama’s statement about the 1967 borders carries little weight when compared to the mean spirited attitudes displayed daily by right wingers, the same can be said of Hispanics. Republicans are living in La La land if they think that people that have been traditionally disenfranchised by groups that eerily resemble conservatives, are going to flock to the polls to vote for these neo-money changers. History trumps this modern day, made up fake outrage, that’s largely hiding your distaste for a minority president,
catlady
June 2nd, 2011
1:21 pm
No one needs to be doing “acts of kindness” for those people! If they are broken down beside the road in the dark, or in bad weather, or in dangerous neighborhoods, just let them suffer!
Douglas @ 10 am: Obviously you don’t have freckles!
mum
June 2nd, 2011
1:21 pm
Texas Tea, absolutely not at our cost. My comment was mainly for those who assume people are having kids just to leech off the rest of us. Most Latinos come from countries where that church is Catholic and their religion forbids contraception and abortion. Religion tends to have an extremely strong hold on the poor and under educated. I have 2 kids and already hate the thought that I support a bunch or native born women who don’t now and probably never will do anything but have kids they you and I have to pay for.
Jimenez
June 2nd, 2011
1:21 pm
“I wonder what any of you would do if you see a man; injured and laying on the side of the road. Would you check his ID before you help him? Would you need to run him through e-Verify to be sure he is who he says he is? Or would you just simply help? It is marvelous to see that in today’s society, we have ignored the acts of kindness and understanding to pass judgment on those we only know by virtue of STATUS. “Illegal” would best describe your “settlers” of this nation…yet we look past history to condemn and demonize these people. I can’t defend everyone in GA who is “illegal” but I can say this, you that place the square blame on all of the “illegals” ought to be blaming the founders of such an institution: your FOREFATHERS. Because not all of them were bad people with bad intentions; but ALL of them were to blame….well, you get the picture”
Take him to the hospital so he can get all of his needs taken care of for FREE while the taxpayers continue to pay the bill. What a good life to be an illegal in the US! Viva America!
catlady
June 2nd, 2011
1:23 pm
Somehow the additional comment did not show up. That was, the first paragraph was said tongue in cheek.
papason
June 2nd, 2011
2:01 pm
Norcross: they use Fake id and socials to attain credit, You dont realize how many ive caught coming into my office to file bankruptcy on a social that isnt theirs.. They have attained 100k plus in debt and they just come up with a new socail and keep it going. Yet if u or I did this wo would go to prison in a heartbeat
papason
June 2nd, 2011
2:05 pm
Furthermore, im sure some would argue that anyone cant use a fake social but the main difference when you are illegal you have nothing that can be traced because to the system you dont even exit where..
nick
June 2nd, 2011
2:15 pm
I think it is time to rename the “Tea Party” the Kool-aid party, because so many are drinking it. In reality undocumented seems like a fair term, because even those of us who are documented are really illegal aliens. How convenient to forget the Native Americans from whom this land was stolen. So face it, you and your ancestors were/are illegal aliens too. And there is no statute of limitations. Additionally, we pretty much invited these illegal/undocumented workers in, seeing as how we were all for cheap labor during the boom years. All anyone does is talk about the costs of undocumented workers. Actually, they are not eligible for most government assistance… and many of their children are American citizens. And they buy groceries and cloths, rent homes, and throw parties (have you ever been to a Quinceañera (the Latin equivalent of a Sweet Sixteen party)? I have, and I can tell you the families spare no expense. When these families leave Georgia, and our economy goes back into recession, and thousands more homes and apartments are vacated, then all the Xenophobes will be crying, and blaming someone else. And it won’t be just the illegal/undocumenteds who leave. A lot of documented/legal people will leave as well. Who wants to hang around and be profiled, even if you have the paperwork to fend off the indignity. Their community is being driven out, their friends and families are being targeted. Nathan Deal is already perplexed because migrant workers are passing up Georgia to pick elsewhere. Wake up Gov. Deal. Would you go to a state where you are not welcome when you can just as easily go to one where you are. So as we speak, Georgia’s fruits and veggies are rotting in the fields. Tea Partiers… it is time to become Tea-Pickers. Prove to us that “legal citizens” want the work. And I certainly don’t want to hear any complaints when food prices go through the roof.
Wake up people. You reap what you sow. And right now, it is a bunch of rotten, decomposing matter.
td
June 2nd, 2011
3:03 pm
nick
June 2nd, 2011
2:15 pm
“In reality undocumented seems like a fair term, because even those of us who are documented are really illegal aliens. How convenient to forget the Native Americans from whom this land was stolen.”
That is a little revisionist history. We did not steal the land. We conquered the land through battle with the inhabitants. How do you think they got the land in the first place? In war the winners get to reap the benefits. It has been that way throughout history.
RGB
June 2nd, 2011
3:55 pm
I’m always amused when the leftist statists call Republicans, and conservatives, “mean”.
I think a 17% real unemployment rate is mean. I believe a $14 trillion debt heaped upon both us and future generations is really mean. A $1.8t trillion annual deficit is terribly mean. Denouncing a plan to save us from certain financial destruction (while offering no plan) is undeniably mean. Destroying our healthcare system and replacing it with one that will cost more, ration care, and kick millions off of the insurance they now have is mean. Cutting a half trillion dollars from Medicare to pay for it is also mean to seniors. And risking soldiers’ lives and our treasure by starting another war with no objective while ignoring the War Powers Act is really mean.
Words are one thing but it’s pretty clear that liberals/statists/leftists/Democrats are mean because of their multitudinous mean actions.
And actions speak louder….
Vote for Pedro
June 2nd, 2011
3:56 pm
We did not steal the land. We conquered the land. Ha. When somebody beat you upside the head and steal your wallet, does “I conquered the wallet” fly with the judge? Don’t think so. Stealing is stealing.
Occupancy of this land was stolen, just as all occupancy of all land was stolen at some point.
The Illegals will probably steal it from us. You are on the losing side this time. Get over it if you want to live. We killed all the Indians who didn’t at least claim to get over it. Careful or we may suffer the same fate! Learn Spanish start smiling and you will probably have a bright future here. Ole!
Your morning jolt: Lawsuit to argue that new immigration law will criminalize acts of kindness | Conservative GA
June 2nd, 2011
4:18 pm
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SaveOurRepublic
June 2nd, 2011
5:25 pm
While the ACLU is solid on privacy rights, this is one of the MANY areas they’re totally mistaken. First of all, illegal invaders are NOT Americans (…got that American Civil Liberties Union); secondly the invaders are de-facto law breakers. If the fedgov won’t fight the invasion, states have to. The ACLU (as usual) is way off the mark on this.
nick cries ...
June 2nd, 2011
6:03 pm
… So as we speak, Georgia’s fruits and veggies are rotting in the fields. Tea Partiers… it is time to become Tea-Pickers. Prove to us that “legal citizens” want the work. And I certainly don’t want to hear any complaints when food prices go through the roof. Wake up people. You reap what you sow. And right now, it is a bunch of rotten, decomposing matter.
Such melodramatic bullcrap from the left. You liberals claim to know everything, but your tiny pea brains and hollow arguments prove otherwise. You go pick the produce in the fields, nick and stop going to all these “Quinceañera” parties to try and pick up little latino girls. How disgusting! The rotten, decomposing matter on the blog is nick!
Texas Tea
June 2nd, 2011
6:05 pm
mum,
Well those people having too many babies need to learn how to keep it in their pants. It’s all about accepting personal responsibility. If contraception is a no no to their religion, then they need to practice abstinence, because sex is not something that is forced to have or a law to have, it is a way of pleasure that people use and obviously the way to reproduce. If their religion doesn’t allow them to practice safe sex, then they need to just not to do it. It’s as plain as that. Just because they want to romp a million times doesn’t mean American society should be responsible for their religious beliefs and the financial burden be thrown upon us, whom had no choice in this, but they do hold the choice to not have sex and run the possibility of getting pregnant every time.
oakwood dawg
June 2nd, 2011
6:15 pm
i have a simple soultion here if ya”ll don’t want to obey the laws it is quite simple GO HOME to what ever crap hole country you came from. tax payers are tired of footing the bill your welfare and doctors bill and driving illegally and hurting and killing innocent people. just pack your stuff and go home, the border swings both ways jesus
Get a Life
June 2nd, 2011
6:16 pm
“And they buy groceries and cloths, rent homes, and throw parties (have you ever been to a Quinceañera (the Latin equivalent of a Sweet Sixteen party)? I have, and I can tell you the families spare no expense.”
Nick, what Walmart and trailer park do you live near? Do you meet many of girls at these gawdy street parties you frequent? Have you busted the pinata open yet? You really should venture out into more prominent social circles.
Legal Lover
June 2nd, 2011
6:30 pm
“Nathan Deal is already perplexed because migrant workers are passing up Georgia to pick elsewhere. Wake up Gov. Deal. Would you go to a state where you are not welcome when you can just as easily go to one where you are. So as we speak, Georgia’s fruits and veggies are rotting in the fields. Tea Partiers… it is time to become Tea-Pickers. Prove to us that “legal citizens” want the work. And I certainly don’t want to hear any complaints when food prices go through the roof.
Wake up people. You reap what you sow. And right now, it is a bunch of rotten, decomposing matter.”
—————————————
There is a DROUGHT you nimrods, it’s been all over the news for pete’s sake! But morons like you claim it’s illegals leaving because of the new law. Liberals and illegal sympathizers like to cherry-pick (pun intended) their opinions.
Illegals can keep running to other states and soon threre will be no place to go but home. The most cost effective approach and way to save illegal families from more hardship would be to go home now. Learn your lessons the hard way. Other states will be pulling in the “Welcome” mat quicker than AZ & GA did.
Mother Nature
June 2nd, 2011
6:37 pm
I will take credit for the illegal aliens leaving the state of GA. No law on the books can do what I am doing. I answer to someone much higher.
bigdawg
June 2nd, 2011
6:38 pm
If Amerika is really going the police-state route, at least we should be honest and return the Statue of Liberty back to the French b/c Amerika certainly isnt’ intereste in the tired, the poor or the huddled masses yearning to be free. All modern-day Amerika cares about is white victimhood and trying to oppress minorities, women, the old, the weak, the infirm and the children!
nick
June 2nd, 2011
7:05 pm
Seems like my comments got under a lot of people’s skin. My wife is an ESOL teacher and we occasionally attend student functions. Leave it to some scared xenophobes to use my attending a student’s birthday party with my wife as an opportunity to expose their own perverted urges. If I were their friend, I’d be afraid to invite them to a family get together.
I have traveled to Africa, Asia, and South America and have friends from all cultures. Don’t be afraid of people who are different. They are not out to get you.
BrownSugahSistah
June 2nd, 2011
7:59 pm
The issue of illegal immigration in Georgia is nothing more than a red herring to detract from the real issues such as cuts to education, transportation woes, economic woes, and a sluggish job market. If politicians were really serious about curtailing illegal immigration they would strengthen the borders, make it a crime to knowingly hire illegal immigrants, and actually enforce current laws. Th truth is the labor is cheap, good old fashion racism gets those righties’ blood boiling, and they have a wedge issue for the 2012 election.
Prosper
June 3rd, 2011
1:34 am
I wonder what if the Native Americans’ lives would have been like today if they had the likes of Gov. Deal and his good ole boy staff. Georgia will suffer economically…and for what?
nick cries ...
June 3rd, 2011
11:52 am
“My wife is an ESOL teacher and we occasionally attend student functions.”
So nick, your wife helps out with translation during your “activities”! What a great couple you must make! I am sure the illegals love having you both hangin’ around!
nick
June 4th, 2011
12:35 pm
So “Nick cries”, you have now clearly established yourself as a pedophile and a xenophobe. Obviously, every interaction between you and children involves inappropriate behavior, as you are unable to conceive of anything else. And in your view of the world, every Latino is illegal.
Your attitude is the reason people who are here “legally” will leave as well. It is frightened, angry people like you who are destroying our state and our country. Take your hate speech somewhere else and leave a reasonable discussion to reasonable people.
Conservative
June 6th, 2011
8:38 am
That retired Air Force lieutennant should be court marshalled for helping illegal aliens. What’s the country coming to when even our armed forces have drunk the liberal kool aid? No help to the enemy. Jesus may have preached about loving enemies, and Deuteronomy says to be kind to the aliens, but God didn’t mean ILLEGAL aliens who are taking over!!!