Women Watch Afrika Condemns the Signing of the Dangerous and Discriminatory HB 1105 by the Governor

Women Watch Afrika Condemns the Signing of the Dangerous and Discriminatory HB 1105 by the Governor

STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 1, 2024

CONTACT:

Preye Cobham, Esq.,  Legal Director, Women Watch Afrika, womenwatchafrika@gmail.com, 404-668-2241

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Atlanta, GA — Women Watch Afrika condemns the signing into law of HB 1105.  Today, May 1, 2024, the governor of Georgia signed into law this dangerous bill that promotes the racial profiling of Georgia’s immigrants communities and undermines the discretion of local law enforcement.

HB 1105 mandates law enforcement to take steps to enter into a 287(g) contract with the federal government, which would deputize law enforcement to work for ICE to enforce federal immigration law or lose state provided funding.

This law will force local sheriff department to play roles they were not elected to play, using local state manpower for the enforcement of federal laws. Additionally, enforcement of the law will result in the targeting of people of color, family separation, racial profiling, and the terrorizing of the immigrant communities.

Women Watch Afrika has worked with many partners to eliminate 287(g) and to pass non-detainer policies for the main purpose of ensuring safety, security, and the elimination of racial profiling by law enforcement in our communities. However, this new law attacks the progress that has been made and reverts the state of Georgia back to a place of insecurity and one in which the community will not feel safe or empowered to seek assistance from or report crimes to law enforcement. This law will create additional liabilities and burdens, and does not increase or ensure public safety.

HB 1105 broadly targets the immigrant community and pushes the false narrative that immigrants are criminals. This deepens the community’s distrust of police.

Women Watch Afrika rejects all policies that discriminate against people and communities of color. ICE detainers have a known record of being unreliable, error prone, and in some cases simply unconstitutional. HB 1105 does not offer any solution to the issue of violence against women, nor does it promote public safety.

“An attack on the immigrant community is an attack on all communities. Elected officials lost focus on the true issue at hand (which is the unfortunate and tragic loss of life), and instead focused on flawed political narratives. What are elected officials planning to put in place to prevent violence against women that can occur regardless of the immigration status of the perpetrator? The misdirected anger at the immigrant communities for the alleged action of one is uncalled for, and we will continue to ask for the complete rejection of all discriminatory policies, divisive rhetoric, and attacks on the immigrant communities.” – Glory Kilanko, Founder and CEO, Women Watch Afrika

Immigrants are human beings. Immigrants are contributing members the society. Immigrants are just like everyone else and deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness that are afforded to all.

Women Watch Afrika will continue to advocate for our communities. We will continue to educate the communities about the effects of such discriminatory laws to prepare them for the chaos, discrimination, and racial profiling that lay ahead with the signing of HB 1105.  ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere’–injustice to one community impacts everyone.  No one is free until everyone is free.

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