State to appeal ruling striking down immigration law

ATLANTA — Georgia officials are planning to appeal a judge’s decision to strike down a portion of the state’s new law aimed at curbing illegal immigration.

“Gov. Deal is disappointed that the court enjoined two sections of Georgia’s immigration law,” Brian Robinson, the governor’s deputy chief of staff for communications, said in a statement.

“Curiously, the court writes ‘all illegal aliens will leave Georgia’ if the law is enforced, as if it is appalled at the thought of people attaining visas before coming to our nation. The federal court’s ruling, however, will crystallize for Georgians and other Americans our underlying problem: Beyond refusing to help with our state’s illegal immigration problem, the federal government is determined to be an obstacle. The state of Georgia narrowly tailored its immigration law to conform with existing federal law and court rulings. Georgians can rest assured that this battle doesn’t end here; we will appeal this decision.”