Local

Atlanta Mayor Says Locals Must Counteract Georgia’s Anti-Immigration Voices

October 22nd, 2013

Speaking to immigrant advocacy groups and local business leaders, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said the message at times can be a difficult sell.

“Candidly, folks, being forward-leaning on immigration is a little tougher in the South. We’ll just put it that way to be polite,” said Reed Tuesday at lunch hosted by the Americas Society and the Council of the Americas.

In 2011, Georgia passed one of the strictest immigration laws in the country.

At the luncheon, Reed vowed to help promote the positive impact of immigrants.

“When other folks want to engage and pass some legislation that I think is bad for the state of Georgia, we need to make sure there are folks on the other side of that issue who are rooting for immigrants in the city, in the state, and America,” said Reed.

Several metro Atlanta-based groups including Welcoming America and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta have ramped up efforts to engage local elected officials and business leaders on immigration issues.

Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, said Reed’s active support will be vital in changing the dialogue statewide.

“Atlanta is an international city but Georgia is a hostile state to foreigners. That is something that needs to change,” Gonzalez said. “The mayor, with his bipartisan support, working with the governor and our Republican delegation, can make headway in that direction.”

Gonzalez said in the short-term Reed and other local elected officials must urge Georgia’s congressional delegation to allow a vote on comprehensive immigration reform.