State bill would put teeth in immigration screening

On Tuesday the State Senate (Georgia) passed a bill in where local governments that take illegal immigration lightly could lose state money.

Bill 20 states that failure to screen immigratns when hiring, and to verify an applicant's immigration status when giving welfare benefits will result in the cost the local government state funds or state-administered federal funds.

The measure, approved 37 to 9, also prohibits local governments from declaring themselves “sanctuary cities” for illegal immigrants. It directs local governments to cooperate with federal agents in enforcing immigration laws.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/stories/2009/02/24/georgia_immigration_bill.html