State Senator Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas), chairman of the Senate Majority Caucus, and State Senator Brian Strickland (R–McDonough), chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, proposed two new legislative initiatives that seek to change criminal procedures for individuals who illegally immigrate to Georgia. The new legislation aims to set strict bail hearing conditions and modify parole rules for illegal immigrants.
The first proposal would amend the Georgia Constitution to allow the Georgia General Assembly to ban parole or set specific parole limitations for illegal immigrants. The second piece of legislation is a bill that would define bail hearing conditions for illegal immigrants and for those considered to be removable or dismissible aliens charged with a felony punishable by up to a year or more in prison.
In a February 29, Georgia General Assembly press release, Anavitarte (pictured above, right) spoke about the purpose of the new initiatives and his commitment to having a fair and just judicial system that focuses on the safety of Georgia and its communities.
He explained, “I felt compelled to introduce these measures as they aim to enhance the protection of our state’s citizens. I approached the drafting of these bills with a balanced perspective, recognizing the importance of upholding the rule of law, while also addressing our broken immigration system.”
Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King expressed his appreciation for the legislators addressing this issue.
He also stated, “The proposed measures introduce strict bail conditions and revise parole rules, which demonstrates Georgia’s dedication to these values, addresses federal immigration policy flaws, and enhances the safety and welfare of all Georgians.”
Strickland (pictured above, left), who worked with Anavitarte to craft the new legislation proposals, specified that Georgia should continue to welcome all immigrants who follow the rules. However, he added, “While we wait for Washington to address our broken system, this legislation makes certain that Georgia is protecting our citizens from those in our country illegally that choose to commit crimes.”
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Debra McClure is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and The Star News Network. Follow Debra on X / Twitter.
Photo “Jason Anavitarte” by Jason Anavitarte.
