More than 50 Hispanic immigrants gather to leave state

Tracy Coley Ingram and Frank Sayles Jr. CNHI

— Georgia’s pending law on illegal immigration is apparently forcing some Hispanic immigrants to flee the state.

Early Monday, more than 50 Hispanic men, women and children, including babies, were gathered outside a Mexican grocery on 12th Street waiting for a bus to take them back to Mexico before the law takes effect, some of them said.

Scores of suitcases, backpacks, boxes and coolers were stacked up outside Torres Mexican Grocery at 314 W. 12th St.

One of the men waiting, who declined to give his name, said most of the Hispanics gathered outside the store did not have proper residency documentation and so were going to Mexico. When interviewed shortly after 8:30 a.m. Monday, he claimed the group had been awaiting the bus since before 11 p.m. the night before.

As Gazette Publisher Frank Sayles Jr. was taking photographs of the scene in the parking lot, a man who claimed to be the store’s owner approached and shoved Sayles, demanding he leave. Roberto Torres is listed as the store’s owner.

When the owner was asked about the bus and what was going on in front of his store, he replied, “I don’t know; I don’t know.”

Sometime before 11:30 a.m., the large group of Hispanics and their luggage were gone from the store’s parking lot. Repeated attempts to further contact the store’s owner was unsuccessful.

Many Hispanics fear they will be, and some say are being, targeted by law enforcement because of their ethnicity, and they believe they will be stopped and harassed even if they are here legally and doing nothing wrong.

“Our farmers are seeing ongoing, growing problems from this law. Nobody wants to be constantly looking over their shoulder,” Tift County Extension Agent Brian Tankersley said Monday.

Alan Parrish, co-owner of Sweet Dixie Melon Co. in Ty Ty, said Monday that “every person working here pays income tax. I pay an exorbitant amount of payroll taxes every week. The Mexicans are working hard, earning a paycheck and producing something. But right now, they are scared, and they’re going to leave our state.”

Parrish confirmed that a flyer has been circulated among the Hispanic community encouraging all Hispanics to stay at home on Friday, when the new law goes into effect, and not go to work or do any shopping.

A worker at Sweet Dixie, who did not wish to share his name, said, “I don’t know who put the flyer out, but everybody has seen it and we agree we won’t work or shop that day. The idea is for everyone to see how much money the state will lose without us.”

Workers at Sweet Dixie shared stories of friends who have already left Georgia to return to Mexico, only to be robbed of everything they own as soon as they cross the border.

“The Mexican mafia knows lots of people are returning to Mexico because of this law. They are waiting to take their money when they come into the country,” one man said.

The man also admitted being in Georgia without proper documentation, but said he has lived here for 17 years, during which time he has maintained a steady job. He said his family is here now, and he sends no money to Mexico. He has a child born here, and he doesn’t want to leave Georgia and take his child to Mexico.

“I’m staying for now. My wife and I will wait and see what happens. But so many have already left, and more are still leaving.”

Parts of the new immigration law were blocked in federal court on Monday afternoon. It was unknown Monday night if the plans for the Hispanic community’s work and shopping boycott on Friday will be altered by the court actions.

To contact reporter Tracy Coley Ingram, call 382-4321.

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