At the Georgia State Capitol. Is this body, the House of the People, legally entitled to amend, circumvent, or repeal federal law? I don't know about that, but we getting ready to do it if that's what you think. That was the question seconds before state lawmakers voted to push a controversial immigration bill to Republican Governor Brian Kemp's desk. The House Bill 1105. The measure passing on the last day of the legislative session amid ongoing fallout from the death of 22-year-old Laken Reilly, the University of Georgia nursing student who was found dead after going for a jog near her campus in Athens. Undocumented immigrant Jose Antonio Ibarra from Venezuela is charged with her murder. He had previously been arrested in 2022 for entering the US without authorisation, but was released on parole, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He's currently being held without bond. House Bill 1105 would require local law enforcement agencies to check the immigration status of people in their custody and cooperate with federal immigration authorities with added penalties of losing state or federal funding for failing to comply. This bill simply ensures that when individuals have committed crimes in Georgia, when we determine they are illegally in this country, that we fully work with federal immigration authorities.

The bill getting pushed back on the floor right before the vote. A lot of concerns have been raised by law enforcement that this bill will undermine their ability to keep their community safe by requiring them to essentially act as if they were immigration law enforcement officers. Immigration advocates say the bill would make some communities less willing to report crimes and work with local law enforcement. What was a personal tragedy for a family. I wish I could have been there to protect her. Is now a political flashpoint. My vision for every senator in this chamber is that you protect citizens from this illegal invasion. Reilly's father even visiting the state senate earlier this month, asking them to pass the bill. President Biden responding on the fly during the State of the Union earlier this month to Representative Marjorie Taylor-Greens' outburst on Reilly's death. Say her name, becoming a rallying cry for Republicans hoping to get tighter immigration laws passed, reinforcing long-held fears many on the right have that immigration leads to an increase in crime, fears that might not hold up to the data. Studies show no meaningful impact on homicide or robbery rates associated with sanctuary city policies.

And Stephen Romo joins us now in studio. So, Stephen, Georgia has been looking at other penalties for other cities that don't adhere to immigration laws, right? Explain that to us. Yeah, this is an interesting point, Allison. Georgia has also passed House Bill 301. Now, that will give residents the ability to sue local governments, municipalities, if they're not following immigration laws. Now, that might sound familiar because back in 2021, Texas passed a law to allow residents to sue abortion providers. Now, very different topics here, but an interesting strategy of putting the onus on residents to go in and file these civil lawsuits if things aren't going exactly as these lawmakers planned. Ellison. Steven Romo, thank you. Thanks for watching. Stay updated about breaking news and top stories on the NBC News app or follow us on social media.