ATHENS, Ga. — Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz backed a 2019 local government resolution in support of the county's immigrant and undocumented communities during a press conference on Wednesday addressing Laken Riley's death. But what exactly is the resolution?
First, it's important to define what the document is. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, a resolution pertains to "matters of special or temporary character." It formally expresses a governing body's opinion, which is generally adopted by an official vote and results in a separate document.
So, here's a breakdown of what the Athens-Clarke County 2019 resolution says:
The document specifically addresses support for the Athens immigrant, undocumented and Latinx communities.
"Athens-Clarke County, Georgia embraces and celebrates our diversity of cultures, languages, religions, and ethnicities, and the Athens-Clarke County community benefits from the hard work, cultural offering, and tax dollars of immigrants who call Athens, Georgia, home," the resolution begins.
It adds the local government "is welcoming to people from all lands and backgrounds and strives to foster a community where individuals and families of all statuses feel safe, are able to prosper and can breathe free."
Additionally, the resolution states that white nationalists and xenophobes "have been emboldened by some politicians and members of the media" and that "our immigrant and undocumented neighbors, especially those of Latinx heritage, face daily fears and threats from individuals and institutions such as ICE."
The resolution was signed on Aug. 20, 2019, by the Girtz and Clerk of Commission Jean Spratlin. You can read the resolution in full below.
At Wednesday's press conference, several protesters interrupted Girtz as he sought to clarify claims about Athens as a "sanctuary city." The mayor previously said Athens is not a sanctuary city under any statutory definition, as such a status is banned under Georgia law.
The resolution listed above doesn't mention the term, and as a matter of law a resolution would not be able to establish any sanctuary city-style policies.
Some cities and counties can limit how closely their law enforcement authorities- police departments and sheriff's offices- work with federal authorities when a person is arrested or cited illegally in the U.S. But Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters said at the news conference that it is his department's practice to notify federal authorities if they see a hold is placed on someone who is arrested.
The mayor additionally distinguished between city law and police department practices and the practices of the sheriff's office, which operates the jail, and the district attorney's office, where there may be such limitations on working with federal immigration authorities.
You can re-watch the full press conference below: