ATLANTA – State Representative Mary Ann Santos (D-McDonough) today issues the following statement in support of the decision to grant bond to Ximena Arias-Cristobal, a 19-year-old Dalton State College student who was recently placed in federal custody:
“Ximena was brought to the U.S. when she was four years old and was mistakenly pulled over for a traffic violation and arrested. She was then held in detention due to her immigration status. Granting Ximena bond is a step in the right direction toward getting her back to her family and her studies. Her situation shows why we need to review our immigration laws. Our laws should be kept in place to keep us from real threats, while also being fair to people like Ms. Arias-Cristobal who contribute to our society. We need clearer policies to help law enforcement distinguish between bad actors versus those who positively contribute to their communities – and clearer pathways to citizenship for them. Immigrants are key to Georgia’s success – contributing greatly to our agriculture industry and many other businesses, making our state strong. When they can live and work without fear, everyone in Georgia benefits. Effective immigration laws should enhance public safety by strategically focusing enforcement on serious risks, ensuring fair treatment for everyone and helping all integrated community members find stability. Achieving these goals will require us to work together, across different perspectives, to find common ground. By working together, we can find practical solutions that truly boost safety, grow our economy and uphold fairness for all Georgians.”
“Conceder la fianza a Ximena es un paso en la dirección correcta para que regrese con su familia y a sus estudios. Su situación demuestra por qué necesitamos revisar nuestras leyes de inmigración. Nuestras leyes deben mantenerse para protegernos de amenazas reales, al mismo tiempo que deben ser justas con personas como la Sra. Arias-Cristobal, quienes contribuyen a nuestra sociedad. Necesitamos políticas más claras para ayudar a las fuerzas del orden a distinguir entre los malhechores y aquellos que contribuyen positivamente a sus comunidades, y vías más claras hacia la ciudadanía para ellos. Los inmigrantes son clave para el éxito de Georgia, contribuyendo en gran medida a nuestra industria agrícola y a muchos otros negocios, fortaleciendo nuestro estado. Cuando pueden vivir y trabajar sin miedo, todos en Georgia se benefician. Las leyes de inmigración efectivas deben mejorar la seguridad pública al enfocar estratégicamente la aplicación de la ley en riesgos serios, asegurando un trato justo para todos y ayudando a todos los miembros integrados de la comunidad a encontrar estabilidad. Lograr estos objetivos requerirá que trabajemos juntos, desde diferentes perspectivas, para encontrar puntos en común. Al trabajar juntos, podemos encontrar soluciones prácticas que realmente impulsen la seguridad, hagan crecer nuestra economía y defiendan la equidad para todos los georgianos.”
Representative Mary Ann Santos represents the citizens of District 117, which includes a portion of Henry County. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2024 and currently serves on the Code Revision, Judiciary, Juvenile and State Properties committees.
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