Contact: Phuong Nguyen
(571) 249-2114
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 2, 2024
Atlanta, GA — Yesterday, HB1105, also known as the Georgia Criminal Alien Track and Report Act of 2024, was signed into law in the state. This legislation poses a significant threat to immigrant survivors of gender-based violence in Georgia, increasing the risk of coming forward to ask for help and further endangering their lives.
HB1105 now mandates that local law enforcement in Georgia coordinate with federal immigration officials when an individual is suspected of being in the country without permission. It permits and encourages law enforcement officers to arrest any person who is simply suspected of being undocumented. Law enforcement officers who do not investigate the immigration status of all those stopped or arrested could now be found guilty of a misdemeanor. The new law also requires that jails in Georgia detain anyone who cannot prove their status even after they have completed their sentence, or have no outstanding arrests, for further detainment by immigration authorities. HB 1105 perpetuates harmful stereotypes and will only serve to increase the fear and mistrust experienced by immigrant survivors seeking safety and justice.
“The data and stories that we have heard from survivors clearly show that when laws like HB 1105 are passed, immigrant survivors become even more scared to leave their homes to seek safety due to fear of being profiled by law enforcement,” Vanessa Wilkins, the Executive Director of Tahirih Atlanta said. “HB 1105 allows abusers to wield even more control over immigrant victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, keeping them silent and in the shadows by threatening detention and deportation if they speak up. When perpetrators can harm women and girls in Georgia with impunity, it makes us all less safe.”
Immigrant survivors of gender-based violence including human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault and other abuses often face unique barriers and challenges in accessing support and resources. HB 1105 exacerbates these challenges by creating a hostile environment that deters survivors from seeking assistance and reporting crimes. Additionally, it will likely lead to increase separation of immigrant families. This legislation undermines efforts to provide safety and protection to survivors and communities.
As an organization dedicated to serving immigrant survivors of gender-based violence, we call on Georgia lawmakers to reconsider the harmful implications of HB 1105. Rather than punishing survivors for crimes committed against them, Georgia should enact policies that protect their rights to safety and justice and work to ensure that all survivors – regardless of immigration status – feel safe reporting crimes to law enforcement. We stand in solidarity with immigrant survivors and will continue to advocate for policies and practices that prioritize their safety, dignity, and well-being.
For further comments on this topic, please email [email protected].
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The Tahirih Justice Center is a national, nonprofit organization that serves women, girls, and all immigrant survivors of gender-based violence. By amplifying the experiences of survivors, our mission is to create a world in which all people share equal rights and live in safety and with dignity.
