The mass depreciation plans of Republican President Donald Trump are afraid among immigrants across Georgia who are concerned that members of their communities are separated from friends, family members and employees.
Since the president was sworn in on January 20, the raids of the immigration and the customs authority increase with more than 7,300 arrests across the country. Trump issued a number of immigration orders since he granted his second term in his office for his campaign promises of mass shift and a significant increase in border patrol security. He quickly signed the legislation of the Riley Act, named after a student student in Georgia on the University of Georgia campus, who was killed by a Venezuelan national on the University of Georgia and the immigration authorities say that they illegally in the country have occurred.
This week, separate Latino Day celebrations took place in State Capitol. The political factions of Georgia expressed different stops for Trump's controversy deportation plans. The question of immigration policy continues to cook in the legislation of Georgia, with several legislative templates submitted since the beginning of the meeting in mid -January in connection with immigration companies.
Daniela Rodriguez, Managing Director of Migrant Equity Southeast, spoke about the challenges that Latino communities faced, including the fear of ice attacks and other suggestions that they are unfair. She was one of the guest speakers at the third annual Latino Day event at the State Capitol on Wednesday, which was organized by the Latino Community Fund Georgia, the Georgia Association of Latino elected official and 14 local organizations.
“The last few days have been hard and heavy. Even with all the preparation, fear and concern in our immigrant communities feel very real, ”said Rodriguez. “Mothers are afraid of being separated from their children, families live in fear of ice attacks and unfair politics. It's not just annoying. This is wrong. Nobody should have to live in fear. “
Rodriguez praised Latinos' resistance in America in defending their rights. She called for a unit front in the fight against the laws on the Sanctuary City and other guidelines that discriminated Latinos.
“This is not the first time that you attack us, and just as we have done it before, we will get up and we will defend ourselves,” said Rodriguez. “Hope is not just a feeling. Hope is a call to act. And I will continue to have hope, hope that this reality will not define our future. I hope that we will exceed these challenges together. “
The day before, the Republican MP from Loganville, Rey Martinez, organized a press conference for the Latino Day with speakers of conservative organizations such as Libre Initiative.
He said he was compassion for Latinos who are afraid of being removed from their communities, but the Trump administration is striving for criminals, regardless of whether they are violent gang members or immigrants without constant legal status.
The Rep. Rep. Rey Martinez, a Republican of Loganville, speaks to the media on February 4, 2025 on Latino Day. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder speaks to media
“You want to get rid of the bad apples first,” said Martinez. “At first they want to get rid of people who are illegal here because they obviously broke the law.”
There are reports that immigrants are arrested in Metro Atlanta without constant legal status and some people, even legal immigrants, leave behind confused.
Jefferson Dominguez, a board member of the Hispanic Construction Association, said that he supported Trump's immigration plan, but was concerned about the large number of his employees who are afraid to get to work, even though he was legal in the country.
Jefferson Dominguez, a member of the Hispanic Construction Association, speaks on February 4, 2025 on Latino Day in State Capitol. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder
“Anyone who works with respect here, pays taxes and should do great things for this country,” said Dominguez in Capitol on Tuesday. “We just want to get the bad people who came here to do bad things. We don't want the bad people. “
In Georgia, the Republican legislators push the legislation that refuse the punishments for civil servants of local government officials and employees who do not report immigrants to the federal authorities without constant legal status.
A hearing from the Senate Committee took place on Wednesday for Senate Bill 21, which would enable local government officials and employees in so -called sanctuary cities to prevent criminal and civil law for crimes that were committed by immigrants without constant legal status. The draft law has returned from the committee and now has a vote from the full Senate.
In 2024, governor Brian Kemp signed a legislation according to which the law enforcement authorities could notify the federal authorities if immigrants are arrested in Georgia without papers. According to the new Immigration Act of the State, local governments are subject to the loss of state funds, and the police and local officials may be able to get against offenses due to the non -establishment of the federal immigration laws.
It is not just immigrants without constant legal status that aims at Trump's commands. The Trump government ended the humanitarian protection, which made it possible for thousands of Venezuelans to legally work in the United States
State Senator Rashaun Kemp criticized Trump and other Republicans for supporting mass deportations on Wednesday and making insensitive comments about migrants.
“As an Afro Latino citizen, I have to say that this country I love is pretty disgusted to see what Donald Trump is doing in DC,” said Atlanta's Democrat at the Latino Day event on Wednesday in Liberty Plaza. “He has made every effort to violate and frighten our community. He said when he came down this escalator for the first time, immigrants bring drugs and crime with them, but I say that immigrants bring opportunities and growth. “
Growing Latino influence in Georgia
Dueling Latino days in Georgia Capitol this week offered Latino and Hispanic organizations and government officials the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of 1.1 million inhabitants in Georgia, including 91,000 companies in Latino ownership. The participants on both Latino days emphasized that the vast majority of people with Hispanic and Latin American heritage are hard -working people who take care of their communities and families.
Gigi Pedraza, Executive Director of the Latino Community Fund Georgia, on February 5, Latino Day on State Capitol. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
On Tuesday, conservative Latino organizations celebrated the achievements of Latinos and the growing voters, who led Trump won 35% of their votes in 2024.
“In 2024 in Georgia, Hispanics heard their votes in record numbers,” said Martinez. “There are 498,000 registered Hispanics in the state of Georgia. Of these 262,000 chose in 2024. This is a record number, and I owe it all of these people to do hard work. “
According to Gigi Pedraza, Executive Director of the Latino Community Fund Georgia, 55% of Latinos' houses have a higher employment rate than other racist and ethnic groups.
“Latinos and immigrants were intrinsically connected to Georgia's success as a state,” said Pedraza on Wednesday. “Our community has and continues to have participation, entrepreneurship and innovation in all areas, regardless of documentation status, faith, breed, ethnicity, gender, place of birth and the one we love.”
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