Building Bridges, Upholding Justice: 20 Years of GAIN

Atlanta, GA—Thursday, January 30, 2025

In 2005, leaders from several of Atlanta’s prominent law firms—Alston & Bird, Eversheds Sutherland, King & Spalding, Troutman Pepper Locke, and McKenna Long & Aldridge (now Dentons)—partnered  with the Atlanta Bar Association to establish the volunteer-led Atlanta Bar Asylum Project (ABAP). With the goal of providing expert pro bono representation to Georgia’s growing population of asylum seekers, ABAP began building vital connections between newly arrived immigrant survivors and Atlanta’s legal community.

ABAP ultimately became the Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network we know today. Over the past 20 years, what began as a grassroots effort—fueled by the compassion, collaboration, and community service of everyday Atlantans—has grown into a vital lifeline for immigrant survivors. Today, GAIN has provided free legal support to thousands of individuals from over 120 countries, while connecting families with the holistic resources they need to not only survive, but thrive.

Despite our 20 years of service to this community, we have never encountered a moment like the one we are facing today. This is a pivotal moment for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in Georgia and across our nation. With over 200 executive orders, memoranda, and proclamations signed on day one of the new administration—many targeting our immigrant neighbors—we face a deliberate wave of policies designed to overwhelm and isolate those seeking safety in the U.S. 

Immediate challenges include:

  • Access to asylum—an inalienable human right—has been suspended and President Trump’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy has been reinstated, leaving vulnerable survivors in harm’s way.
  • Many legal pathways for immigrants fleeing persecution to enter the U.S. have been eliminated, including humanitarian parole, the ‘CBP One’ asylum appointment app, and the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
  • The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a ‘stop-work’ order to federally funded legal service providers, forcing them to cease serving individuals in removal proceedings. This action denies vulnerable immigrants access to basic legal information and representation, leaving them without critical support during a time of immense need.
  • A memo this week from the Office of Management and Budget called for a spending freeze on federal assistance. While it has since been rescinded, future actions like this would put up to 40% of GAIN’s funding at risk and directly impact the number of immigrant survivors that we are able to serve. 

GAIN has always been ready to respond.

Over the past two decades, we have defended immigrant survivors in Georgia—providing hope, legal protection, and pathways to safety. These policies affect our friends and neighbors deeply, and their stories remind us why this work matters now more than ever.

As we reflect on this milestone year for GAIN, we remain committed to ensuring that every individual seeking safety has access to justice and dignity. But we can’t do this alone.

We need you to help sustain the powerful foundation our organization was built on 20 years ago. We need you to continue standing with us and the people we serve, supporting our efforts to create a Georgia where all immigrants can thrive. Together, we can make a difference.

Get involved with GAIN: 

  • Join our community of ‘Bridge Builders’ and support us with a monthly recurring donation of any amount—this reliable unrestricted income is the best way to sustain our life-saving work right now.
  • Stay informed and up to date on changes to programs and policies; here and here are recent summaries of immigration-related changes.
  • Share accurate ‘Know Your Rights’ resources and information with your networks; here, here, and here are great places to start.
  • Wear your support for immigrants in Georgia and shop GAIN’s T-shirt store! A percentage of proceeds will support our vital work.
  • Provide pro bono expertise and help an immigrant survivor by signing up as a GAIN Legal Volunteer or support client families through GAIN Non-Legal Volunteer opportunities. 
  • Connect with GAIN on social media and share our content with your networks on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X. 
  • Save the date for our annual event, Taste of the World, on Friday, April 25. Your participation in this event—whether through sharing, sponsoring, or purchasing a ticket—will help to power GAIN’s work at this critical moment. Learn more here.