ATLANTA, GA – Today, FWD.us and the Latin American Association hosted U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) for a discussion on the current issues facing the Georgia Latinx community. As Congress works to provide financial relief for working and middle-class families, there is also an urgency to get vital immigration reform bills, such as the Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, signed into law to ensure undocumented essential workers have a clear pathway to legal status. Several organizations were also in attendance, including the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Latino Community Fund, and the Latino Chamber Commerce.

FWD.us Georgia Immigration Manager Jaime Rangel released the following statement after the roundtable discussion:

“I am grateful for this opportunity to sit down with Senator Ossoff alongside community and business leaders to discuss his work in Congress to support our communities and areas of much-needed reform, like immigration. In the six years that I’ve been working on Georgia immigration policy, a U.S. Senator has never taken the time to visit the Latin American Association and speak to immigrant leaders in the community. As someone who was brought to this country at six months old and raised right here in the Northwest Georgia mountains, this conversation is an important step forward.

“I was lucky to become a DACA recipient with more than 20,000 others in Georgia and have the opportunity to legally study and work in the state where I grew up. Despite the immense progress we’ve made to support immigrant communities, there is still more that can be done, including securing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented individuals. Doing this would make an immense difference for Dreamers like me and t would bring economic benefits to our state while recognizing and encouraging the essential contributions of undocumented Georgia immigrants, in addition to keeping families like mine together.

“After having had the opportunity earlier this year to meet with President Joe Biden who renewed his commitment to providing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and other undocumented immigrants, Senator Ossoff today encouraged the same. Today, I am filled with hope for Georgian immigrants, including DACA recipients, who make Georgia better, love this state, and call it home. Let’s keep up the good work.”