5 Georgia Immigration Stories You Should Watch in 2023 – HONEYCOMB

1. How will the Kensington StationSoccer team grow?

StationSoccer works with MARTA to attract children to club sports who otherwise would not have access to training or games due to prohibitive cost or transportation. In 2022, StationSoccer opened a soccer pitch at MARTA’s Kensington Station, a short bus ride from Clarkston. Kids who grew up watching football before moving to Clarkston as immigrants or refugees now have a team that I personally support. You know these kids are incredible gamers!

2. Will state legislatures pass state tuition fees for DACA recipients and other protected immigrants?

Two separate laws that would allow state education for different groups of immigrants and refugees failed in the Georgia legislature last year. One would allow DACA recipients, many of whom have lived most of their lives in Georgia, to receive state tuition at state institutions. The other would provide in-state tuition for refugees immediately upon arrival in the United States. Legislators deliberately wanted to include Afghans who are in the US and have protected status for having aided the US military at the risk of their own lives in Afghanistan. There is non-partisan interest in both bills.

3. How will the new Georgian law on hate crimes be applied in the spa shooter trial and what precedent could this set?

Fulton County will hear the case against the man accused of killing six Asian women at Atlanta-area spas in March 2021. He previously pleaded guilty to murder in Cherokee County and is serving a life sentence there.

The trial was supposed to start in October, but lawyers asked for more time to prepare. This is the first time Georgia’s new hate crimes law has applied to a case in Fulton County. The law allows prosecutors to request additional penalties if the crime is found to be motivated by factors such as racism or misogyny.

The shooter faces the death penalty in Fulton County.

4. How will Georgia’s many non-profit organizations continue to support immigrants and refugees in their new lives here?

Across the state, and particularly in Metro, nonprofits, businesses, and advocacy groups have robust programs to empower new Georgians. Key ones include the Latin American Association’s business incubator program for women entrepreneurs and a partnership with the Refugee Women’s Network and International Community School Atlanta to retrain professionals to become teachers, both to build a community for newcomers and to address teacher shortages.

5. Will there be further state or federal interventions in Georgia’s ICE prisons?

In 2021, ICE terminated its contract with the Irwin Detention Center after a federal whistleblower complaint alleging widespread sexual abuse of female inmates. In 2022, formerly incarcerated women reported sexual abuse at the Stewart Detention Center.

There is a large ongoing federal investigation into Irwin, and proponents have urged state officials and Congress to thoroughly investigate Stewart. I am on the lookout to see what types of restitutions are being developed for these women and what larger systemic changes might result from these investigations.

This is part of WABE’s Storylines To Watch In 2023 series. Click here to see what storylines WABE reporters are following right now – including arts and culture, criminal justice, education, environment, health, housing and politics – so you know what the year will bring.