2026 Policy Agenda

Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta’s 2026 Policy Agenda represents our commitment to work towards a just world that embraces self-determination, transformative solidarity and thriving communities. 

We shape public policy that impacts Asian American, Pacific Islander (AAPI), Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian (AMEMSA) communities, minority-language speakers and immigrants in Georgia.

We believe that basic rights and services should be available to all Georgians across race, ethnicity, language preference and immigration status. Our 2026 agenda addresses key issues the immigrant community faces and what we believe is needed to make Georgia more inclusive for all those who call the state home.

We are in a critical time when many democratic principles, practices and institutions are under attack. Our focus in 2026 will prioritize affirmation of democratic values, with a focus on the protection of immigrant and civil rights. Our longer-term view is towards building support for people-centered policies that expand basic rights and access to essential services across communities.

Our priorities include:

PROTECTING IMMIGRANT RIGHTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS

We fight back against harmful policies that erode immigrants’ rights and demand every Georgian is treated fairly as an equal member of their community. We will work to:

  • Fight back against policies that discriminate against AAPI, AMEMSA and other immigrant communities, including practices that violate the rights of those seeking refuge, asylum and residence in the U.S.; violate people’s privacy rights because of immigration status, race or ethnicity; and target organizations that advocate for AAPI, AMEMSA and other immigrant communities 

  • Fight back against policies that restrict access to education based on country of origin, including restrictions on international students and barriers for K-12 students because of immigration status

  • Fight back against policies that diminish or punish full civic participation of individuals and organizations that exercise their rights to free speech, peaceful protest, advocacy and other civic engagement efforts

  • Fight back against policies that lead to the detention and deportation of community members and separates immigrant families, including empowering or coercing local law enforcement and governments to engage in federal immigration enforcement

VOTING RIGHTS & VOTER ACCESS

We work to advance reforms that make voting more accessible for all eligible Asian American and other immigrant voters, and to defend and protect their rights. We will work to:

  • Promote language access in voting materials and at the polls for voters with a preference for a language other than English

  • Defend counties’ ability to choose to translate election materials and ballots

  • Protect the choice to vote by mail for naturalized citizens who prefer this voting method

  • Fight back against unnecessary constitutional amendments that promote false narratives about immigrant communities and voting

  • Oppose unnecessary proof-of-citizenship voter registration requirements that disenfranchise eligible voters and are based on anti-immigrant disinformation

ADVANCING IMMIGRANT JUSTICE

We believe that basic rights and access to essential services should be available to all across race, ethnicity, language ability and immigration status. The key issues we are focused on long-term are:

  • Advocate for the Equal Citizenship for Children Act in the U.S. Congress

  • Advocate for in-state tuition access for all Georgia residents across immigration status

  • Advocate for access to state drivers’ licenses for all Georgia residents across immigration status

  • Advocate for greater language access through increased state and local resources for publicly funded services

For more information, including bills that we are tracking, view our 2026 Policy Updates