Democratic Party of Georgia

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DPG Latino Caucus Chair Statement on GOP Candidate Michael Williams “Deportation Bus Tour”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, May 15 2018

CONTACT:

Antonio Molina

DPG Latino Caucus Chair

Democratic Party of Georgia

(678) 557-8292

ATLANTA – Antonio Molina, chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia’s Latino Caucus, issues the following statement:

“Michael Williams is not the only Republican dividing our state along hate-filled racial lines, he’s simply the latest. His ‘Deportation Bus Tour’ is a disgusting way to pander for votes in a Governor’s race.

“As a military veteran and a person of Latino descent, I find it disgraceful and in violation of our American values. Instead of creating hate and division, Williams’ could be sharing a positive view toward a more inclusive Georgia.

“Our state’s motto is ‘Wisdom, Justice, Moderation’. This bus tour has none of these traits.”

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Background: Michael Williams’ Deportation Bus Tour, accessed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCvtj0DqY4Y

DPG Statement on Trump Administration Rescinding DACA

Release:  Tuesday, September 5, 2017                                                                                           
Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Latino Caucus Chair Antonio Molina issued the following statement on Donald Trump’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

“Donald Trump’s decision to rescind DACA is a cruel and calculated political move that punishes 800,000 immigrants looking to build a better life and contribute to our economy. Georgia ranks in the top ten states hit the hardest by Trump’s shortsighted move. With 23,405 DACA recipients, Georgia stands to lose $994,182,808 in state GDP annually.

“Contrary to today’s remarks by Attorney General Sessions, DACA does not place our nation at risk of crime and terrorism—DACA recipients must pass extensive background checks. Using immigrants as a fear tactic is a cowardly move that could force almost one million people back in to the shadows. Targeting our neighbors and driving wedges into our communities does absolutely nothing to keep our country safe.

“Ahead of next year’s elections, Trump’s action underscores the importance of electing Democrats to statewide office—it was, after all, a group of rightwing state attorneys general who threatened to sue the Trump Administration unless it began to dismantle DACA by September 5th.

“Georgia Democrats proudly stand with the immigrants in our state who make us stronger. We will continue to fight for commonsense immigration reform that strengthens families and continues to strengthen our economy.”

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BACKGROUND

CNBC – Here’s how much DACA deportations would cost your state’s economy

NYT – ‘Dreamer’ Plan That Aided 800,000 Immigrants Is Threatened

Trump’s Immigration Plan: Tearing Apart Families and Dividing our Country

Trump’s Immigration Plan: Tearing Apart Families and Dividing our Country

 

Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Latino Caucus Chair Antonio Molina issued the following statement on Donald Trump’s immigration speech.

 

“Donald Trump isn’t fooling anyone. He began his campaign by labeling immigrants as ‘rapists’ and criminals. Trump wants to deport 16 million people from this country—including Americans whose parents are undocumented. He wants to end birthright citizenship. These plans aren’t just dangerous—they’re a betrayal of American values. Democrats will continue to champion policies that keep Latino families together and guarantee a fair path to citizenship.” – Antonio Molina, Latino Caucus Chair

 

Information on Hillary Clinton’s plan for comprehensive immigration reform can be found here.

 

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Excerpts from Press Call in Advance of Cruz’s GA Visit with DPG Latino Caucus Chair Antonio Molina

Release:  Friday, December 18, 2015                                                                                              

 

Excerpts from Press Call in Advance of Cruz’s Georgia Visit with Democratic Party of Georgia Latino Caucus Chair Antonio Molina

 

 

Atlanta, GA – Today, as Ted Cruz begins a two day swing through Georgia, Democratic Party of Georgia Latino Caucus Chair Antonio Molina held a press call outlining just how dangerous the policies of Ted Cruz and the Republican Party are for the Hispanic community. Find excerpts of the call below.

 

“It’s been two years since the GOP released their autopsy report, and the only thing that has changed is that the Republican Party’s divisive, xenophobic rhetoric has gone from bad to worse.

 

“2013’s autopsy recommended that the Republican Party change how they ‘engage with Hispanic communities to welcome in new members of our Party.’

 

“Well, look no further than Ted Cruz’s immigration plan—a plan he touted on Tuesday night in Los Vegas—to see how the GOP “welcomes” my community.

 

“Cruz’s plan would end the 14th amendment’s guarantee to birthright citizenship. It would limit legal immigration, and suspend the popular H1-B visa program for high-skilled foreign workers. Cruz has also vowed to undo President Obama’s executive actions to keep families together. Ted Cruz is more interested in emulating immigration extremists like Donald Trump and Marco Rubio than in actually improving the lives of Georgia’s immigrant families.

 

 

“The complete and utter disdain Ted Cruz and his Party have for the Hispanic community is evident, and we are listening and we are watching. And we will remember when we head to the polls next November.

 

“Democrats believe that immigrants make our country stronger. And while Ted Cruz and the GOP degrade and dismiss immigrants and the Hispanic community, Democrats will continue to work to keep families together. And we will continue to hope that the Republican Party will stop playing politics and join us in our efforts.”

DPG Latino Caucus on GOP’s Dangerous and Out of Touch Remarks on Undocumented Immigrants

Release:  Wednesday, July 8, 2015                                                                                      

 

Democratic Party of Georgia Latino Caucus on GOP’s Dangerous and Out of Touch Remarks on Undocumented Immigrants

 

 

Atlanta, GA – DPG Latino Caucus Chair Antonio Molina issued the following statement in response to Republican Senator Josh McKoon’s call for a ban on undocumented immigrants from practicing law or teaching in Georgia’s public schools.

 

“No one needed a press conference to learn that Josh McKoon and members of his Party are hostile toward the Latino community. What we did learn today is that there’s always a new low for them to sink to. Immigrants have contributed to our nation’s culture and economy for more than 200 years; and our state leaders should work together to bring the undocumented out of the shadows and into our workforce.

 

“But it certainly seems that McKoon and the GOP would rather pander to the Donald Trump wing of their Party than do what’s right. They chose the path of fear, profiling Latinos and labeling us as a problem.

 

“While Republicans would rather tear families apart and divide our state with offensive rhetoric, Democrats will continue to stand up for all families and seek ways to offer hardworking immigrants a path to citizenship.”

 

 

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Background

 

AJC – Senator seeks harsher sanctions against illegal immigrants in Georgia

The call for action against those McKoon calls “illegal aliens” — a term many Latinos consider derogatory — came after the fatal shooting of a woman in San Francisco by an illegal immigrant who had been deported five times. The Republican from Columbus said he wanted to catch the attention of Georgians by using the publicity surrounding the shooting to draw outrage here.

“There are more illegal aliens in this state than Arizona,” McKoon said during a press conference in Atlanta. What happened in San Francisco, he said, “can and I fear will happen in Georgia.”

 

 

Latino Caucus of the Democratic Party of Georgia Responds to Gov. Nathan Deal’s Comments to Activists

Release:  Thursday, August 28, 2014         

 

Latino Caucus of the Democratic Party of Georgia Responds to Gov. Nathan Deal’s Comments to Activists

 

Atlanta, GA – Today, Democratic Party of Georgia Latino Caucus Chair Antonio Molina issued the following statement in response to Gov. Nathan Deal’s remarks regarding a student’s legal status at a College Republican event held at the University of Georgia.

 

“The Latino Caucus is appalled and disturbed that our current Governor would profile young students based on their appearance and presume that they are undocumented. Such a presumption is at the very heart of racial profiling.

 

“The Latino community—a once welcomed community that has contributed to the very best of Georgia—has now become a political tool of hatred and division at the hands of the Republican Party. And Gov. Deal’s comments lead me to believe that he is not about serving the state of Georgia, but rather a select few.

 

“I had the pleasure of serving my country in the United States Navy for six years, conducting multiple deployments in the defense of the Constitution of the United States. If I were out of uniform and asked the same questions, would the governor presume that I was undocumented as well?

 

“In order for Georgia to thrive, our leaders must ensure that we live in an inclusive Georgia—a Georgia that welcomes diversity, rewards hard work, and provides opportunity for all. It is apparent that Nathan Deal cannot provide this kind of leadership.”

 

 

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BACKGROUND

 

Flagpole 8/26/14 –  Gov. Nathan Deal Presumes UGA Immigration Activists Are Undocumented

 

Flagpole 8/27/14 – Watch Video of Gov. Nathan Deal Telling UGA Students He Presumes They’re Undocumented

 

AJC 8/27/14 – Nathan Deal’s run-in with immigration activists at UGA