A Georgia state lawmaker is expected to unveil legislation targeting illegal immigrants in the work force. State Sen. Jack Murphy plans to discuss his proposal at a news conference Thursday at the Statehouse.

The Republican lawmaker has not yet filed his bill. But he earlier proposed that all businesses be required to use a federal database called E-Verify to make sure new hires are authorized to work in the United States.

Murphy said he wants violators to first receive warnings. Subsequent offenses would be punished with fines or the revocation of a business license.

His proposal will be scrutinized by Georgia farmers who rely on illegal immigrants to harvest labor-intensive crops. The Georgia Farm Bureau has said that immigration is an issue reserved for the federal government, not state leaders.

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