ATLANTA, GA — FWD.us Georgia State Immigration Director Jaime Rangel issued the following statement today as the 2023 Georgia State Legislative Session begins under the Gold Dome, highlighting priorities and opportunities to support Peach State immigrants and all Georgians:

“The Georgia State Legislature opens today for what I hope will be another productive session that builds on the bipartisan progress and positive discussions made last year in support of Georgia’s immigrants – and all of us who rely on their talents, expertise, and contributions. More than 1.1 million immigrants call the Peach State home, and as a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipient, I’m eager for more action on smart policies like tuition equity that will reduce barriers for young people to earn a higher education, so our state can prosper with the full economic participation of all Georgians. In fact, passing such a policy would add as much as $10 million to the economy each year, in addition to retaining the talent we need for a robust workforce.

“This session looks promising: lawmakers are already coming together to recognize the enormous contributions of Georgia immigrants, who are essential to our workforce and economy, and we look forward to working with the newly created bipartisan caucuses – including the Hispanic Caucus and Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus – on these and other issues. However, conversations must turn into tangible legislation that addresses the unique challenges we face, keeping our renowned business environment competitive and revitalizing our workforce. A key mark of our success will be eliminating economic barriers for immigrants and improving quality of life for all Georgians, regardless of their immigration status. I look forward to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to take action on pro-immigration, pro-growth policies this year.”