The long-running legal battle over controversial part of Georgia’s sweeping immigration law is over, at least for now.

The Georgia Attorney General’s office confirmed Monday the state will not appeal a federal court’s decision against the part of the law that would punish people who knowingly transport or harbor illegal immigrants while committing other crimes.

In August, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that measure is preempted by federal law, which already prohibits such activities. Georgia was facing a deadline this week to decide whether to appeal that decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“After a review of the case and with the vast majority of the statute having passed constitutional muster, we have determined that we are not going to pursue further appeal of this matter,” Lauren Kane, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Attorney General’s office, wrote in an email.

About the Author

Keep Reading

President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House shortly after his inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. Even more than in his first term, Trump has mounted a fundamental challenge to the norms and expectations of what a president can and should do. (Doug Mills/New York Times)

Credit: NYT

Featured

An email circulating through Georgia Tech told students and faculty to delete DEI terms from the school's website, but administrators said the email contained "misinformation." (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2024)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez