US | illegal immigration Tough Immigration Bill Becomes Law in Georgia Governor signs Arizona-style measures into law By Rob Quinn Posted May 14, 2011 4:58 AM CDT Copied "This legislation, I believe, is a responsible step forward in the absence of federal action," Gov. Deal said. (AP Photo/Tami Chappell) Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has signed some of the country's toughest anti-illegal immigration measures into law. The Georgia law—largely modeled on Arizona's—allows local police to question certain suspects about their immigration status, penalizes people who knowingly transport illegal immigrants, and makes using fake ID to get a job a felony punishable by up to 15 years in jail, reports the Atlanta Journal-Consitution. Part or all of similar laws have been blocked in Arizona and Utah and opponents have promised to fight Georgia's, although its authors say they have done their best to see off potential legal challenges. "States don’t have the legal authority to deport. We don’t have the legal authority to secure our borders,” says one of the bill's architects, Republican state lawmaker Matt Ramsey. "But our goal is, within a constitutional framework, to eliminate incentives for illegal aliens to cross into our state." Read These Next Delta pilot arrested moments after landing plane. A family hike took a tragic turn in Arkansas on Saturday. Multiple people shot at Reno casino. Gunman kills police officer at Manhattan skyscraper. Report an error