The “Agricultural Labor Family at Capitol” fund Georgia, which organizes for the fifth time in a row by the Latino Community Fund Georgia based in Atlanta, are to bridge the gap between remote rural communities and the state center of political power.
According to the Latino Community Fund Georgia's Pedro Viloria, the annual Capitol visit offers legislators a rare way to hear directly from the people who make up the basis of the state's agricultural industry.
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“They mainly deal with the owners of the farms,” he said.
Conversely, the event gives the participants from rural Georgia – most of Tifton and Valdosta in the southern part of the state – an opportunity to overcome their “alienation” for the political process and to make their legislators.
Credit: Hyosub Shin / AJC
Credit: Hyosub Shin / AJC
Viloria said that another goal of the event on Friday was to remind the legislator to the influence of the agricultural sector on the broader economy of the state.
Agriculture remains the largest industry in the value of more than 74 billion US dollars a year. It is strongly driven by Migrant Labor, as Viloria found, including both without paper workers and from foreign nationals who are temporary work visa in the state. According to national data, Georgia draws more seasonal agricultural workers from Latin America than any other state except Florida.
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The overwhelming role of immigrants in Georgia's farms and fields will probably make this year's Capitol visit more response than in previous years. President Donald Trump's return to the White House brought with it a flood of executive measures, which make up a far -reaching approach to both the legal and illegal immigration. By adopting a GOP Financing Act at the beginning of this month, the Federal Government provides more resources to improve deportations, including an increase in the budget for the US immigration and customs authority of $ 500 million.
The Trump government's deportation campaign found a willing partner in Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
At the beginning of this week, Kemp's office announced support for the training of the 1,100 swearing -in officers from the public security department to help ICE identify and capture non -authorized immigrants.
“Our community is afraid of the changes in the guidelines,” said Viloria. “The workers do not go to the doctor. The workers do not bring their children to school. And so we see a big withdrawal to take up only space. And that's why this event is, I think, even in a very crucial time to remind the community that we are still important participants for this state and this country.”
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The ride of the state workers of the state immigrant could occur with considerable costs, said Viloria.
“We talk about food on our tables. We do not talk about it, you know, white crash services. We are talking about our refrigerators in stock and keeping our shops in stock. And that's all on the back of migrant workers,” said Viloria.
