AAAF and Advancing Justice - Atlanta Issue Statement As Georgia Senate Passes Anti-Immigrant Property Bill

STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 3, 2023

AAAF and Advancing Justice - Atlanta  Issue Statement As Georgia Senate Passes Anti-Immigrant Property Bill 

Yesterday, the Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 132, legislation which would target immigrant and refugee communities by prohibiting property ownership for individuals from certain countries. This impacts the abilities of immigrant and refugee families and communities to thrive and equitably own land in Georgia. It is a blatant violation of federal law as it discriminates against individuals based on their national origin.

SB 132 contains language that sets a dangerous precedent. The bill prohibits those without U.S. citizenship or Legal Permanent Resident status from a “Country of Particular Concern,” as well as companies owned and operated by these foreign nationals, from owning agricultural land or land within 25 miles of a military base in Georgia. This impacts valid visa-holders and refugees who are waiting for permanent resident status. Countries currently designated by the U.S. Secretary of State as a “Country of Particular Concern” include Burma, People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

The Asian American Advocacy Fund and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta denounce SB 132 and issue the following statements:

Aisha Yaqoob Mahmood, Executive Director for Asian American Advocacy Fund:

“Many people from the AAPI community moved to the U.S. for the promise of freedom and opportunity. However, certain politicians are working hard to pick and choose who has the freedom to build a life in our state and country. SB 132, strips Georgians of the freedom to buy property, based on their national origin, in the state that they call home. It portrays immigrant communities as “outsiders” and “dangerous,” promoting anti-immigrant and anti-Asian hostility.  SB 132 is not only dangerous but it is unconstitutional and a part of a larger anti-immigrant agenda. We cannot let opponents of our freedoms discriminate against our communities and stigmatize people based on where they were born.” 

Phi Nguyen, Executive Director for Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta:

"Georgia's immigrants simply seek to be safe, free, and to be able to provide for their families. This bill falsely singles out immigrants from certain countries as untrustworthy, puts onerous and unfair requirements to exercise basic rights protected by federal law, and discriminates by national origin. We call on the Legislature to stand with freedom and fairness for immigrant communities."

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The Asian American Advocacy Fund is a grassroots 501(c)4 social welfare organization dedicated to building a politically-conscious, engaged, and progressive Asian American base in Georgia.

To learn more about AAAF, visit https://www.asianamericanadvocacyfund.org/   

Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta is the first nonprofit legal advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the civil rights of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI) and Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian (AMEMSA) communities in Georgia and the Southeast.

To learn more about Advancing Justice-Atlanta, visit https://www.advancingjustice-atlanta.org/ 

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