Monday morning, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff visited the Georgia State Capitol to speak to the ongoing crisis concerning the state’s foster care systems. In testimony from October 2023, Ossoff disclosed that an internal audit. It stated Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) failed to address risk and safety concerns in 84% of reviewed cases. Ossoff also mentioned an analysis that found 1,790 children in state care were reported missing between 2018 and 2022.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) testified on November 6, 2023, that 410 children who were reported missing from care in Georgia to NCMEC were identified by NCMEC as likely victims of child sex trafficking, according to their analysis.
“I know the safety of vulnerable children is a top priority for so many in this body. In light of the dangerous conditions that prevail in foster care systems nationwide, including here in our own state, I hope that the urgency of reform will lead to meaningful legislative progress to protect Georgia’s most vulnerable children. I thank all of you who have been engaged in leading that effort,” said Senator Ossoff during his speech in the Georgia Senate Chamber.
Ossoff’s remarks come as he leads a bi-partisan effort in Congress to pass reform that will protect foster children in Georgia, and around the nation, from abuse and from neglect.
Laken Riley’s death sparks fierce debate on immigration
Both chambers inside the Gold Dome held moments of silence for Laken Riley. Riley was a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University in Athens. The named suspect, Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, who is not a U.S. citizen, but resides in the Athens area. He was booked into the Athens-Clarke County Jail Friday evening. Ibarra faces charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another.
Authorities say Ibarra entered the United States illegally and was arrested twice. Franco Ibarra, Jose Antonio’s brother, was charged for possessing a fraudulent green card, when pressed by law enforcement.
Saturday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp blamed President Joe Biden for Riley’s murder.
“Laken Riley’s tragic death struck the hearts of Georgians everywhere and has rightfully sparked national outrage,” said Governor Kemp. “As I have said many times before: every state is now a border state because of Joe Biden’s inaction, and today I am again demanding answers and information from the Biden Administration that will help us protect our citizens when the federal government will not.”
State Democrats pushed back urging no one politicize Riley’s death. However, Senator Ossoff lent credence to the now hotly-contested immigration debate. On February 7th, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell killed what was a bi-partisan agreement regarding border reform. McConnell realized the Republicans would not be willing to pair southern border security with funding to Ukraine in their fight against Russia. It was at that point Senator McConnell realized his influence among the conference had cratered.
Trump did not want President Biden to take victory for any meaningful legislation on the border. He wanted to use the southern border crisis as a campaign issue. As a result, the GOP coalesced around the former President.
Monday, Ossoff said of the deal, “politics got in the way.”
“Look, the situation at the southern border is a real crisis,” said Ossoff. “As I’ve said repeatedly over the years, for too long, too many Democrats have been unwilling to acknowledge that we need legislation. We need implementation. That’s why the former president’s decision to deliberately tank the bipartisan border security legislation that was proceeding through the Senate was so destructive in my view to our national security. However, we have to continue to work together both in the legislative branch and the executive branch to address this crisis at the southern border.”
According to data from the Pew Research Center and American Immigration Coalition, an estimated 400,000 and 500,000 undocumented immigrants are living in Georgia.
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