HB 470: Crimes and offenses; prohibit activities related to immigration enforcement in certain locations

Georgia law currently does not set aside specific places as off-limits for immigration enforcement. This bill would change that by adding a new section to Georgia's criminal code dealing with offenses involving immigration status. The bill states that no employee of the federal, state, or local government, including law enforcement officers, may conduct immigration enforcement activities or act with intent to assist such enforcement at school grounds, college campuses, public places of worship, or hospitals. The prohibition applies regardless of any other law that might otherwise allow such activity ('notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary'). The bill does not specify penalties for violating the new rule, and it repeals any conflicting laws. It does not include a separate effective date section beyond standard enactment.

• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-204) prohibiting government employees from conducting immigration enforcement at certain locations.
• Applies the prohibition to federal, state, and local government employees, explicitly including law enforcement officers.
• Bans not just direct enforcement but also actions taken with intent to assist immigration enforcement at the covered locations.
• Names four protected location types: school grounds, college campuses, public places of worship, and hospitals.
• Overrides any other conflicting law by stating the rule applies 'notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary.'
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with this new restriction.

Federal immigration officers, state and local police, schools and colleges, houses of worship, and hospitals in Georgia are directly affected, since the bill restricts what government employees may do on their grounds. Immigrant communities who use these spaces would also be affected.

If enacted, immigration agents and other government employees could not carry out enforcement actions at schools, colleges, churches, or hospitals in Georgia, potentially changing how and where such enforcement happens and affecting access to these institutions for immigrant families.

• Section 1 adds new Code section 16-11-204 to Article 5 of Chapter 11 of Title 16, which covers offenses involving illegal aliens.
• The new section bars immigration enforcement activities or actions intended to assist such enforcement by federal, state, or local government employees, including law enforcement.
• The restriction applies specifically to school grounds, college campuses, public places of worship, and hospitals.
• The provision is written to override conflicting law ('notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary').
• Section 2 repeals all laws and parts of laws in conflict with the Act.

1. 2025-02-20House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-19House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-18House Hopper (House)

• Bryce Berry (D, HD-056)Primary sponsor
• Gabriel Sanchez (D, HD-042)
• Ruwa Romman (D, HD-097)
• Samuel Park (D, HD-107)
• Park Cannon (D, HD-058)
• Mary Ann Santos (D, HD-117)

• immigration enforcement
• law enforcement policy
• schools
• hospitals
• places of worship