The Georgia legislative session concluded on March 28, also marking the end of the two-year 2023-2024 legislative cycle. Members of the Georgia Immigrant Rights Alliance (GIRA) remained busy fighting a slew of anti-immigrant legislation. Several bills were introduced and pushed forward through non-transparent legislative maneuvers that made accurate tracking, advocacy, and community engagement nearly impossible.

During the 2024 legislative session, the Georgia legislature introduced more than 10 bills and resolutions that target our state’s immigrant communities. They not only put immigrants at risk of additional racial profiling, xenophobic attacks, and criminalization, but also raise constitutional concerns–some of which are already being considered in appellate courts as a result of similar legislation passed in other states.

On Sine Die, the House agreed to the Senate version of HB 1105, which mandates several requirements on local law enforcement regarding the identification and reporting to ICE of all so-called “suspected foreign nationals” who are confined within jails. After lawmakers made significant additions to the bill days before Crossover, the bill was amended again in the Senate Public Safety committee multiple times in the course of one week, and many changes were made without being entered into the public record. The lack of transparency combined with the drastic changes made to the bill has already resulted in a climate of heightened fear and misinformation among immigrant Georgians. If signed by Governor Kemp, GIRA is deeply concerned about the impact of HB 1105 on immigrant communities.

Amidst an increasingly unfriendly environment for immigrant rights legislation, GIRA members also worked with legislators to successfully introduce legislation that would advance immigrant rights. Bills include driving cards for undocumented individuals; in-state tuition for all Georgians with work authorization; and standardized communications guidelines for local school districts’ outreach to ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) students and parents/guardians pertaining to children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

GIRA is proud of the work we have done as a coalition to protect and advance immigrant rights. At the same time, we are concerned about the negative impacts that both introduced and passed legislation will have on our communities. Further, we are angered by the manipulation of Laken Riley’s death to villainize immigrants and punish Georgia localities for working hard to serve their communities as best as possible. In spite of the reckless actions of the legislature, the members of our coalition remain committed to fighting for our communities during and beyond the state legislative session. Instead of attacking Georgia’s most marginalized and vulnerable residents, GIRA implores our legislators to focus their efforts on legislation that will allow all Georgians to thrive.