Local Sheriff Department Allowed to Enforce Federal Immigration Laws

The Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department has become the fifth agency in Georgia to be accepted into a federal program that allows local and state officials to enforce federal immigration laws.

The Gwinnett Sheriff's Department is one of 11 new law enforcement agencies nationwide whose acceptance into the Homeland Security Department program was announced Friday.

The acceptance of Gwinnett Sheriff Butch Conway's application was hailed as a victory by anti-illegal immigration groups but decried by civil liberties and human rights groups.

The 11 new participants are the first to sign a new, standardized agreement since the program was overhauled following an investigation earlier this year by the Government Accountability Office.

(Associated Press)

Georgia hosts human rights conference

Human rights activists from around the world are gathering in Georgia this week. The Carter Center in Atlanta is hosting a conference aimed at focusing support for international political, economic, social and cultural rights in the administration of President-elect Barack Obama. Former President Carter told about 50 conference delegates today that the U.S. image has been tarnished over the past seven years in the name of fighting terrorism. Carter said he believes the Obama administration "will be looking to restore the reputation of my country."

(Associated Press)

Indigent defense gets new backing

Today human rights groups urged state leaders to pony up more money for Georgia's indigent defense system. The system has faced funding problems, job cuts and a cash drain due to the death penalty case of accused courthouse gunman Brian Nichols. Nichols defense has already cost nearly $2 million. Indigent defenders, whose primary source of funding is criminal and civil fines and court fees, say they need more money to meet obligations to poor defendants across the state.

(V. Edwards)

Rev. R.L. White, (c), Exec. Dir., Atlanta Chapter NAACP,
flanked by members of the civil rights community
protest lack of funding for state's indigent defense fund.