Georgia Lt. Governor versus the city of Decatur

DECATUR, Ga. - A top state official blasted the city of Decatur claiming officials are refusing to turn over illegal immigrants accused of committing serious crimes.

Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle warned if the DeKalb County city does not change its policy, state funding will be withheld.

The Lieutenant Governor of Georgia said he is serious about holding Decatur, a town of just over 22,000 citizens, responsible if the city leaders fail to comply to comply with the sanctuary city's regulation.

Cagle said the Decatur Police chief wrote an order to officers explaining they will be punished if they turn over to Homeland Security or ICE an illegal sought through a detainer.

Decatur Deputy Manager Hugh Saxon said Cagle must be misinterpreting the police policy that actually has been in effect for a decade and he said with a proper judicial warrant, there would be full cooperation with any law enforcement agency.

Cagle said state and federal dollars could be withheld. He could not specify Wednesday how much that could be.