Georgia's Immigrant population surges.

[Lady Celeste]

As most already know, Georgia's population has been surging. A larger percentage of this population is now coming from immigrants. This will be interesting as it will change the dynamics of the state...add greater cultural diversity...but there are also some issues that need to be addressed.

From the article:

Georgia experienced one of the largest influxes of immigrants in the nation from 2000 to 2005, a study released Monday says.

During that time, 248,000 immigrants arrived in the state, bringing their total number to 762,000, or about 9 percent of the population, said the report by the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington-based think tank that supports lower levels of immigration.

Groups defending immigrants criticized the study, which comes as the national debate on the issue heats up in anticipation of a vote on a major immigration bill later this week in the House of Representatives. And in Georgia, the Legislature is set to convene next month with an agenda that includes a measure aimed at restricting illegal immigrants' use of state services.

This will probably heat up debates here in Georgia as well because of increase burden to many social programs in the state. There has been legislators already gearing up for a fight against illegals in the state. Last year we had the stink over rather illegals should be issued driver's licenses. Well as more immigrants...legal and illegal stream into the state, these and others will be some of the issue we will have face.