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Georgia Awaits Ruling on Immigration Law

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    Gov. Deal defends controversial crackdown that may be halted by federal judge

  • Duration 4:10
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-- -- governor wants police ready to enforce the State's new controversial immigration crackdown.

But a federal judge may put a stop to it the new law is set to go into -- fact on July the first the judge saying that he will rule before that date.

Here's part of what that law would deal police could -- the immigration status.

Of people stopped for other reasons essentially -- break -- -- lot they're speeding go through a red light.

Cops can pull him over and -- their immigration status civil rights groups filing a lawsuit claiming that the law is unconstitutional.

And we expect to -- on this very -- joining us now is Georgia governor.

Nathan Deal he is a Republican good morning governor so tell us why does the state of Georgia want or need the slot right now.

Well good morning -- Of the state of Georgia like many other states as you see are reacting to -- failure of the federal government.

To secure our borders when the federal government fails to do its job cost of that failure is really being borne by states and local communities.

And I think that's why you see the state of Georgia's legislation.

-- the state has about 425.

Illegal aliens in that state it puts it.

In the top ten of illegal aliens in states I want to ask you about this -- you have a 159.

Counties statewide.

How would -- make sure that this law is enforced consistently back to be a major problem.

Well it's 445000.

Which makes us about the seventh largest per illegal and -- population in the country.

Yes we have a lot of counties in our state.

But I think it'll be enforced as we enforce all of our -- whether -- traffic laws are everything else.

They are enforced by local jurisdictions.

We believe that Leo proper training -- the proper individuals can be put in place to be able to do it fairly and impartially.

And to achieve the goals at the Georgia legislature had in mind.

While governor when it comes to that training we are hearing that many of the local police departments haven't started to train their police officers as to how to handle this new law.

It's a post -- take a fact just a few weeks from now so what do you do about that a lot of confusion out there.

Well our law enforcement officers are already trained to deal with several law enforcement violations -- the traffic or otherwise.

And that is the initial contact that they will hand out.

The question then becomes how to they verify the status of an individual.

We have -- of our largest counties that are participating in the current.

Federal 287 G program we have officers and our public safety department that have also been trained by federal immigration authorities.

We believe we have resources obviously we would appreciate -- the federal government would provide us additional training -- so yes.

Governor -- -- counties pardon me but at least we have counties that have asked.

Sorry sacks are tied it at least one -- -- -- official is saying that this law is just -- to bag.

And way too confusing so if you're hearing that from what is essentially your troops on the ground.

There's a whole lot of work to deal between now and the time that that law would take a fact if the judge allows -- to -- -- Well you're always gonna have opinions that vary across the state.

But when you have the four of the largest counties with the largest illegal immigrant population.

Already participating in a federal program to identify and be able to deport individuals who were improperly in our state.

I think you find that the vast majority of law enforcement officers.

Recognize the importance of this because they're jails are being crowded but people who -- illegally in our country and is costing them and their budgets at the local level.

A huge amount of money short governor out quickly just a few seconds left where do you predict that this will go from here you think that the judges that -- issue.

A preliminary injunction and this may have to go up to a higher level court.

Well I certainly would never want to pre judge what the federal court is going to do.

It is in the -- of the court right now we will know very quickly I think as to whether or not.

An injunction is granted it does appear that all of the states in Georgia -- one problem.

That it passed similar legislation will probably have to ultimately be decided.

At the Supreme Court level as to their constitutionality.

All right governor Nathan Deal of Georgia laws that take effect July the first but that the judge still -- at that's our.

Thanks so much for joining us this morning.

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