Immigrant Rights Groups Speak Out Against Georgia's HB87

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Korea Daily, News Report, Posted: May 17, 2011

ATLANTA – Civil and immigrants’ rights groups across Georgia have rallied against the governor’s signing of House Bill 87, a controversial new law that mirrors legislation passed in Arizona, reports the Korea Daily.

“For us the bill’s passage is lamentable, as it represents a direct assault in the rights of legal immigrants in the state,” said Jong-guk Eun, executive director of the Korean American Association of greater Atlanta.

State Governor Nathan Deal signed the Arizona-style bill into law last Friday. The bill grants local police and business owners the right to check the immigration status of individuals against the federal E-Verify database.

There are an estimated 480 thousand undocumented immigrants in the state of Georgia, 20 thousand more are believed to reside in Arizona.

A number of local employers say the bill will have a negative impact on their businesses, particularly if it causes an outflow immigrant labor from the state. Insiders from the state’s agricultural sector say one of the results of House Bill 87 could be higher prices at the supermarket as businesses seek to compensate for lost labor.

Some Atlanta businesses are reportedly hanging sings in their storefronts that read “Immigrants Welcome Here." One owner told CBS News that she planned to be non-compliant, and that the sign in her window was a reflection of her “disgust” with the new law.

Opposition groups say they plan to protest the bill when it goes into effect in July 1.
 

Comments

 
Anonymous

Posted May 17 2011

Oh boo-hoo for the businesses that want to hire illegal labor. I hope you all go out of business or get a still fine for hiring illegals in the first place.

Anonymous

Posted May 18 2011

Why would this bill hurt LEGAL immigrants?

Anonymous

Posted May 18 2011

this is so stupid. if it wasn't for Hispanic immigrants wanting a better life, none of the construction work would be done.not even the country would be half as made. First of all, every person in the congress/federal government is ignorant due to the fact that separating families is not approved anywhere. if they were to put themselves in an immigrant's place, they wouldn't say the same thing. not every illegal came into the country illegally anyways. some came with visa and passport. what happens to the kids that have no say in this what so ever? is it there fault that their parents decided to immigrate somewhere else with them being under age? NO it's not, therefore, at least give illegal underage aliens a right of being able to have a license so they can drive to college and something so they can work and pay their education, so they can finally leave the country and come back when ever they want and continue their career.

Anonymous

Posted May 18 2011

this is so stupid. if it wasn't for Hispanic immigrants wanting a better life, none of the construction work would be done.not even the country would be half as made. First of all, every person in the congress/federal government is ignorant due to the fact that separating families is not approved anywhere. if they were to put themselves in an immigrant's place, they wouldn't say the same thing. not every illegal came into the country illegally anyways. some came with visa and passport. what happens to the kids that have no say in this what so ever? is it there fault that their parents decided to immigrate somewhere else with them being under age? NO it's not, therefore, at least give illegal underage aliens a right of being able to have a license so they can drive to college and something so they can work and pay their education, so they can finally leave the country and come back when ever they want and continue their career.

Anonymous

Posted May 19 2011

"none of the construction work would be done" You have to be kidding yourself. I know a dozen people who are out of work construction workers. Some of them are veterans.

Anonymous

Posted May 24 2011

THIS IS FOR OH BOO-HOO AND ALL OTHERS WHO THINK THE ALL IMMIGRANTS ARE BAD PEOPLE JUST THINK WHEN YOU GOING TO EAT IN A RESTAURANT YOU KNOW WHO MAKES YOUR FOOD AN HISPANISH PERSON AND ALSO THAT DOG HIS NAME IS ALPAGIO JUST SEND HIM FOR A VACATION TO COLOMBIA AND I MAKE SURE JUST BUY ONLY ONE WAY TICKET BECAUSE HE NEVER COMING BACK HERE TO USA AND MAY BE ALL OTHERS TO

Anonymous

Posted May 30 2011

hello for all the people who think the hb87 is a good bill. WELL WRONG !!!!! undocumanted worker work all day in sun snow ,rain.they came here to start a new beter life. some evan have not seen their home countrys and dont know how it is. show think be fore yoy post they are every where and help this country rise.

Anonymous

Posted Dec 1 2011

I'm 11 and I know HB87 is pointless. Come on now,Nathan...

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