ATLANTA (AP) — Republican state lawmakers seeking to aid President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration are threatening local officials who resist with lawsuits, fines and even potential jail time.

Lawmakers in more than 20 states this year have filed legislation targeting so-called sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, according to an Associated Press analysis using the bill-tracking software Plural.

Some of those states already ban sanctuary policies but are now proposing to punish mayors, council members and other government officials who violate the prohibition.

The goal is to provide “teeth to those who are being aggrieved by local governments and local officials who are not abiding by Georgia immigration law,” said Republican state Sen. Blake Tillery, whose legislation would allow lawsuits against anyone who implements sanctuary policies. His bill recently passed the Senate and is now in the House.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    1211 hours ago

    Some of the bills I found using their source if you want to look at them:

    • North Dakota HB 1303
    • Kentucky HB 213 & 344
    • Virginia HB 2389
    • Massachusetts SD 629
    • Missouri HB 1163
    • Michigan SB 11
    • New Jersey S 2560 & A 159
    • Tennessee HB 6001
    • Colorado SB 25-047