Dramatic rise in electronic monitoring of immigrants: Since the start of the Biden Administration, there’s been a 70 percent increase in the number of immigrants living in Georgia, North and South Carolinas, who are wearing ankle bracelets or are being subject to some sort of electronic surveillance. The surge has followed a rise in the number of people crossing the southwest border, and the Biden Administration has argued that it’s a humane alternative to detention. Still, advocates are saying the monitoring is unnecessary and infringes on privacy. Read the full piece in the AJC here.
A major Georgia mental health bill was signed into law. What does that mean for the state’s growing immigrant communities? Not that much, according to Crystal Munoz, immigration policy analyst for the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI). The bill does ease mental health access for many Georgians, but it doesn’t contain anything calling for linguistic or culturally appropriate services. "In the future, the General Assembly should consider adding language that ensures equitable access to behavioral health care from providers that themselves reflect the linguistic and cultural diversity of their patients...” said Munoz. I’ve reported on growing mental health needs and the need for more bilingual therapists (read: Why we need more therapists in Atlanta who speak languages other than English). Darlene Lynch of the Centers of Victims of Torture, says mental health advocates are already working towards making next year’s bill more comprehensive. Read GBPI’s statement here.
GA Senate passes historic resolution, recognizing Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. Senator Sheikh Raman of District 5, aka Georgia’s first Muslim State Senator, led a milestone resolution for the state’s Muslim communities in early April. The resolution officially recognizes the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the holiday Eid al-Fitr. He hopes the resolution will help increase visibility of Georgia’s diversity, including its growing Muslim communities. "This is something that amplifies our voices,” Raman told me over the phone. “We just can't stay on the sidelines. We have got to participate in what's going on.” The senator has also been working to include more halal options in schools across Gwinnett County. Next on his to-do list? He hopes to put forward a resolution next year to make Eid al-Fitr a school holiday.
Atlanta area high schooler and YouTube star is a cultural bridge for the Tamil community. Siddharth Raghavan, aka Tamil Paiyan or “Tamil boy,” is no ordinary freshman high schooler. His YouTube channel just hit 100,000 subscribers and his videos (all in Tamil), at least one of which has over two million views, feature him explaining simple aspects of American life. “Raghavan’s videos have become extremely helpful to those who don’t speak English or people living in India who plan to come to the States,” reports NRI Pulse.
In one video, he gives viewers a tour of Webb Bridge Middle School, explaining how everything from lockers to lunchtime works. In another, he orders food from Taco Bell on his phone, showing all the menu options, goes to pick it up, brings it home, and unwraps a quesadilla, explaining how it’s vegetarian and you can eat it with hot sauce. I couldn’t stop watching (even though I don’t speak Tamil). Check out his channel here.
And finally, it’s Ramadan. Muslims all over Atlanta (and the world!) are fasting from sunrise to sunset. I was amazed the other day when I saw four varieties of dates on display (Barhi, Halawi, Medjool Rhutab, and Zahidi) at my local Sprouts Farmers Market. When I was a kid, the main place we'd find dates were halal meat shops or Middle Eastern grocery stores.
Anyways, after two years of the pandemic (I know I can barely get myself to say that anymore) and a lull in community gatherings, folks are coming together again for iftars - the evening meal breaking the fast. For the rest of the month, I’ll be highlighting an iftar each week - so stay tuned.
Top photo credit: Getty Images.
