Implementation Of Geo. Immigration Law In Question

From The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

By Jeremy Redmon and Craig Schneider–Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Many major Atlanta area police departments have not started training officers to enforce Georgia’s tough new anti-illegal immigration law, which is supposed to take effect July 1.

Among them are the DeKalb and Fulton county police departments and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the state police. Cherokee County will start training Wednesday; the Atlanta Police Department refused to discuss the question.

Part of the problem is uncertainty over the fate of the law, which is being challenged in federal court. Some law enforcement agencies say they won’t train their officers until after the judge rules on whether it can take effect. Meanwhile, some local police call the law vague and various agencies are divided on the powers it would give them.

The prospect of uneven enforcement was on the judge’s mind Monday as he questioned lawyers for the state and the groups that are challenging the law. U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Thrash said local authorities might pick and choose whom to target for investigation, favoring some people and not others.

Thrash said he will rule by July 1 on whether the law should be put on hold. (more…)

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