At a Hispanic church in South Georgia, Daniela Rodriguez, executive director of Migrant Equity Southeast, described the anxiety gripping immigrant communities. “There’s definitely a lot of fear in the community, a lot of uncertainty,” Rodriguez told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC). Her nonprofit serves immigrant and refugee populations in southern and coastal Georgia, focusing on “rapid response” to potential crises stemming from Trump’s immigration policies.
Trump’s reelection campaign pledged to create the largest deportation program in U.S. history. Early appointments in his second administration suggest a commitment to this agenda. For instance, Trump has named Stephen Miller, a staunch immigration hardliner, to a senior role and reinstated Tom Homan as “border czar.” According to the AJC, Homan, known for his role in crafting the controversial family separation policy during Trump’s first term, has announced plans to resume workplace immigration raids.
These developments have left immigrant communities feeling targeted on multiple fronts. America Gruner, president of the Coalition of Latino Leaders (CLILA) in Dalton, described the situation as an all-out assault on immigrants. “I feel like we’re being attacked at the federal level, at the state level, and at the local level,” she told the AJC.
Advocates are emphasizing the importance of planning and education. Rodriguez’s group plans to host family preparedness clinics in partnership with legal providers, helping families gather vital documentation and designate guardians for their children in case of deportation. “We don’t want [separations] to happen,” Rodriguez said. “But it’s better to be prepared.”
Gruner has also been urging Dalton’s majority-Hispanic population to draw on lessons from previous immigration crackdowns. During Trump’s first term, deportations left numerous children without their parents, prompting community volunteers to care for them. “I’ll never forget that time,” Gruner shared. Despite the challenges, she highlighted the resilience of immigrant communities, reminding them of their ability to resist and adapt.
Even before policy changes take effect, immigrant advocates have reported an increase in hostile behaviors and scams targeting immigrants. Anti-immigrant flyers and fraudulent text messages threatening deportation have been circulating in Georgia. “The intention is clearly to scare people,” said Gigi Pedraza, executive director of the Latino Community Fund, in her remarks to the AJC.
Advocates are countering this climate by educating immigrants about their rights, including the right to remain silent and to refuse entry to ICE agents without a judicial warrant. Organizations are also encouraging the formation of mutual aid networks and urging communities to report ICE sightings. Adelina Nicholls of the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights stressed the importance of collective action. “We think that what’s coming is really big, and that one nonprofit, or two, or 10 won’t be able to cope,” Nicholls told the AJC.
Despite looming challenges, Georgia’s immigrant communities remain determined to support one another and defend their rights. As Rodriguez poignantly stated, “The goal is to keep families together and ensure that children don’t end up in state custody. But we need the community’s help to achieve this.”
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This text is based on reporting by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), which provides in-depth coverage of the challenges facing immigrant communities in Georgia amid policy changes and heightened enforcement under Donald Trump’s second term. The information includes insights from advocates, nonprofit leaders, and community members, reflecting the fear, resilience, and ongoing efforts to support vulnerable populations.
To read The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) text click here.