ATLANTA (AP) — Republican state lawmakers seeking to aid President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration are threatening local officials who resist with lawsuits, fines and even potential jail time.

Lawmakers in more than 20 states this year have filed legislation targeting so-called sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, according to an Associated Press analysis using the bill-tracking software Plural.

Some of those states already ban sanctuary policies but are now proposing to punish mayors, council members and other government officials who violate the prohibition.

The goal is to provide “teeth to those who are being aggrieved by local governments and local officials who are not abiding by Georgia immigration law,” said Republican state Sen. Blake Tillery, whose legislation would allow lawsuits against anyone who implements sanctuary policies. His bill recently passed the Senate and is now in the House.

  • Atelopus-zeteki@fedia.io
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    1 day ago

    “in more than 20 states” - so way less than 1/2. I’m seeing Georgia, and Louisiana. South Dakota, and Florida. Tennessee, and Wyoming. Wyoming has no sanctuary cities, but are being ‘proactive’ against them. New Hampshire, and Missouri. Yep, 8 are mentioned in the article, so yeah, “more than 20” is apparently BS. Illinois is fighting with the Fed re: sanctuary cities & immigration.

      • Atelopus-zeteki@fedia.io
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        5 hours ago

        I bet that IS one way they refer to themselves. Kinda sad they forget that part when it comes to treatment of people who live in their state, pay taxes in their state, are employed in their state.