Opinion: Afghan women refugees like me want a future in Georgia

This article was originally published by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The first thing I noticed about Georgia was how friendly people are here. I arrived in Atlanta in 2021 after fleeing Afghanistan when the Taliban took over my country. I never wanted to have to leave, but I had no choice when the Taliban robbed us of a safe future with their violence and oppression. It is now against the law in my country for women like me to receive a college education and pursue our dreams.

Arriving in Georgia, in a completely new and unfamiliar place, was scary. But even strangers have shown me the warm, Southern welcome that I have learned is a proud custom in this state. While it breaks my heart that I will most likely never be able to return to Afghanistan, Georgia is my home now. I want to start a new life here. I want to return to school, earn my degree, support my family, and give back to the state that gave me a second chance at life. 

But I, like so many other displaced people living in Georgia, found out that I could not access in-state tuition here—no matter how long I live, work, or pay state taxes—because of my immigration status. This makes it harder for us to rebuild our lives. 

Continue reading this article here.