The Georgia state House passed a bill allowing police to arrest suspected undocumented individuals, voting 97-74 on House Bill 1105. The bill was prompted by the killing of nursing student Laken Riley in Athens, Ga., allegedly by Venezuelan citizen Jose Ibarra who entered the U.S. unlawfully in 2022.
Ibarra was detained by ICE but released before his arrest in New York. Riley’s death sparked debate, with some Republicans blaming Democrats, while Democrats argue against shaping immigration policy based on individual cases.
The bill mandates reporting of undocumented individuals in custody, with penalties for non-compliance. Rep. Jesse Petrea sponsored the bill, citing Riley’s death as a catalyst. Rep. Pedro Marin criticized the bill as promoting racial profiling.
