LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Tuesday, the Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta held a press conference in efforts to have Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed from Gwinnett County.
This comes just shy of one month after a controversial immigration program, 287g, was renewed by Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway.
The 287g program is a partnership between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local law enforcement. It allows local law enforcement to delegate immigration enforcement to the federal agency.
But, today with the support of several local politicians and a petition with 600 signatures advocates against the program says that's not the case.
"We want the Sheriff to know and the Board of Commissioners to know, that this move is not reflective of what Gwinnett is," Sadiyah Ahmad, Policy Advocate with AAAJA, said.
Ahmad says that this is having an impact on families that are living right here in Gwinnett County.
The group started to collect signatures in April right before 287g was renewed.
"What we are trying to do is gain public support. This is a long term fight, and we understand that" Esther Lin, Director of Civic Engagement and Organizing for AAAJA, said.
Esther acknowledges that although there are undocumented Asians are not targeted as often; it is essential to show solidarity with the Latino community.
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