Immigration Debate Heats Up Georgia's 2010 Gubernatorial Race

In the wake of Arizona's controversial SB 1070, also known as the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act, illegal immigration is now the subject of heated debate all over the country. In Georgia's 2010 gubernatorial race, illegal immigration became the hot-button issue through the primaries. Although Georgia is not considered a hotbed of illegal immigration when compared to border states such as Arizona, California, and Texas, immigration has had a major impact on Georgia's population and economy. Georgia consistently ranks among the top-ten states with the largest populations of immigrants (authorized and unauthorized), while reports from independent analyst firm The Perryman Group show that illegal aliens account for significant percentages of the state's economic activity.

The Census Bureau's 2010 Statistical Abstract of the United States, which reflects 2008 data, shows that Georgia has the 9^th highest population of immigrants in the nation. The Department of Homeland Security reported in 2009 that Georgia has the 6^th highest population of unauthorized immigrants in the nation at 480,000, higher even than Arizona, which is reported at 460,000. Georgia's unauthorized immigrant population grew 115% between 2000 and 2009, by far the highest rate in the nation (Nevada came in second at 55%).

Immigrationpolicy.org has compiled data contributed by a number of sources and bureaus that show the significant impact of unauthorized immigrants on Georgia's economy. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the independent Pew Hispanic Center, immigrants comprised 12.6% of the state's workforce in 2008 (or 626,836 workers), half of which (6.3% of the state's workforce, or 325,000 workers) were unauthorized immigrants. The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute shows that unauthorized immigrants in Georgia contributed around $235 million in aggregated sales, income, and property tax in 2006. Independent analyst firm the Perryman Group reported that the state would lose $21.3 billion in economic activity, $9.5 billion in gross state product, and approximately 132,460 jobs if all unauthorized immigrants in Georgia were detained or deported, even accounting for adequate market adjustment time.

Throughout the 2010 Georgia Gubernatorial Primaries, the GOP candidates consistently showed support for Arizona SB 1070, while Democratic candidates showed some uncertainty. All the candidates were asked to issue statements regarding the case of Jessica Colotl, a Kennesaw State University student who was discovered to have been brought into the country illegally as a child by her parents. The discovery was made following an arrest for a minor traffic violation. Colotl has been paying tuition at the "in-state" rate, which is partially subsidized by taxpayers. This became a contentious part of the debate as critics used this as an example of unauthorized immigrants using limited resources that should, by rights, go to American citizens.

The statements indicated a partisan split among the candidates. 5 GOP candidates responded, and all emphasized how they would crack down on illegal aliens in Georgia. Karen Handel and Nathan Deal, who are the 2 remaining GOP candidates in the upcoming runoff election to determine the GOP nominee, both stated that they would expel Colotl to avoid establishing a precedent for making exceptions. Only one Democratic candidate, Roy Barnes, responded; in his statement, Barnes said that the state of Georgia "should allow her to finish her classes and after graduation she must deal with the requirements of the federal immigration laws, as do her parents." Barnes, who won the Democratic Primary on July 20 to become the Democratic nominee, later promised to favor an "Arizona-type law," although he continues to oppose the expulsion of students who grew up in America but were brought here illegally as minors from another country.

Both of the candidates for Lt. Governor also say they would support new immigration policies modeled after those of Arizona. Incumbent Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle (R) stated that "Arizona's immigration reform law was a necessary response to the federal government's total failure to secure our nation's border. Georgia and other states must act to do what Washington will not." Democratic challenger Carol Porter was less enthusiastic but still resolved to support a similar bill if necessary. "I think it will be unfortunate and a continued waste of taxpayer time and money to have 50 individual state policies, but if the Federal Government does not step up, I am willing to take it there."

The illegal immigration debate has taken on greater prominence in local, state, and national politics as the country continues to suffer the greatest economic downturn in decades. With state unemployment levels rising as high as 10.5%, the protection and creation of jobs is of the utmost importance. Steven Camarota, director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies, points out that competition for jobs is fierce, particularly among younger or less-educated workers. Unauthorized immigrants, who tend to work for lower wages, have severely impacted the unemployment rates for these groups, which, he says, were "awful, even before the recession."

In a recent poll commissioned by the Georgia Newspaper Partnership, 68% of registered voters in Georgia would support giving "state and local law enforcement the power to ask people already stopped for possible violations of the law to show proof they are in the country legally and then arrest those that could not provide such proof." 24% were opposed, and 8% were undecided.

Sources:

Danielle Kurtzlben, "Government Data Show Fewer Illegal Immigrants," U.S. News and World Report

Michael Hoefer, Nancy Rytina, and Bryan C. Baker, "Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Residing in the United States: January 2009," Department of Homeland Security

The Immigration Policy Center, "New Americans in the Peach State," www.immigrationpolicy.org

Lori Geary, "Georgia Gubernatorial Candidates Voice Their Opinion On Immigration Issue," www.WSBTV.com

Steve Visser, "Barnes says he supports an Arizona-type law," Atlanta-Journal Constitution

Paul Crawley, "Nearly All of Georgia's Major Candidates Support Arizona Style Immigration Law," www.11alive.com

Tammy Joyner and Michael E. Kanell, "Immigrants a force in Georgia," Atlanta-Journal Constitution

Jeremy Redmon, "Poll: Most Georgia voters want Arizona-style immigration law here," Atlanta-Journal Constitution