Ga. Immigration Bill Targets Employer Checks

ATLANTA -- A Georgia state lawmaker on Thursday filed legislation that targets illegal immigrants in the work force and is drawing criticism from several fronts, including the state's Number One industry -- agriculture.

Like a bill filed last week in the Georgia House of Representatives, the proposal from state Senator Jack Murphy and other Republican senators would require all private employers to use a federal database to check that new hires are in the country illegally.

But, unlike the House bill, it includes exemptions for employers who use certain work visa programs.

Murphy said what they want to do is have employers check on employees to make sure they're legally in the country and are working legally under the proper visas.

The exemption would include the H2-A visa program, which allows farmers to bring in workers from other countries for seasonal work.