Rep. Dr. Jasmine Clark, Candidate for Georgia's 13th Congressional District, Releases Statement Condemning ICE raid on Hyundai plant in Bryan County, Georgia

LILBURN, GA– Today, Rep. Dr. Jasmine Clark (D-Lilburn), a microbiologist, Emory University biology professor, and candidate for Congress, released a statement condemning the ICE raid on the Hyundai metaplant in Bryan County, Georgia:

“On Friday, September 5, ICE carried out the largest ICE raid of the year at the Hyundai plant in Bryan County, GA.

475 people were swept up and taken to a rural holding facility where, to this day, their families are having trouble locating them. It has been reported that, like other raids of this nature, many people who were arrested were legally allowed to work here–including at least one green card holder. This raid specifically targeted immigrants trying to support their families. They were not criminals. They were at work. And while they were ripped from their families and whisked away to holding facilities, if they were not legally permitted to work in the US, the individuals responsible for illegally hiring them were able to go to their homes, facing no accountability. Not only was this an attack on working people, but it was an attack on GA’s economy. We’ve heard for years that Georgia is the #1 state to do business. How can we keep that title when one of the largest projects in our state’s history sees their operation stunted and hundreds of its workers detained? And Republicans, many of whom celebrated almost $2B in state tax incentives for this plant, are now radio silent.

While I am happy to see that some of the workers have finally been released, it highlights this administration tactic of terrorizing immigrants first, and asking questions later. This is the antithesis to how things are supposed to work in this country. I am calling on Georgia Republicans to grow a spine and condemn this vile attack on our state. I am calling on the Trump administration to stop using ICE as a political tool to punish their perceived enemies. And I am calling on Congress to put an end to this and pass legislation that will protect our workers and immigrants so this can’t happen again.”

ABOUT JASMINE CLARK

Rep. Dr. Jasmine Clark was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2018, flipping a Gwinnett County seat that had been long held by a Republican incumbent. Since then, she has been a leading Democratic voice in the legislature, standing up for science, abortion rights, and healthcare as the Republican majority aggressively sought to roll back rights. Dr. Clark earned her PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Emory University and completed a postdoctoral project in HIV research. In addition to her legislative service, Dr. Clark serves as an Assistant Professor of Biology, working with undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students. Born and raised in Georgia and a longtime resident of Lilburn, Jasmine is raising her daughter, Jayda, who attends Gwinnett County Public Schools, and her son Jacobe who is a sophomore in college. She is a member of Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Lilburn.