YUCK…

From the Georgia Appleseed Website: ( read it all HERE)

“The Mission of Georgia Appleseed: To listen to the unheard voices of the poor, the children, the marginalized; to uncover and end the injustices that we would not endure ourselves; to win the battles for our constituency in the courts of public opinion or in the halls of justice that no one else is willing or able to fight.”

AND….

Economic Security/Public Safety Initiative
Immigrant Policy Project
Backgrounders

Public Safety, Economic Security and Remittances
In this resource briefing, Georgia Appleseed suggests that taxing international money remittance services will not help to meet the public policy goals of taxing unauthorized immigrants, but instead may drive immigrants back to a dangerous cash-only lifestyle. Additionally, taxing money remittances will impact legal workers in Georgia with a temporary visa, as well as US citizens who send money to family outside the United States. Read the Georgia Appleseed Backgrounder: Remittances. Read the Georgia Appleseed Backgrounder: Remittances.
Public Safety and Bilingual Pay
Law enforcement officers proficient in more than one language can serve a real benefit to diverse communities. Read the Georgia Appleseed Backgrounder: Bilingual Pay on data regarding Georgia and other state law enforcement’s use of pay incentives to hire and retain bilingual officers.

Financial Access for Latino Immigrants
Georgia Appleseed is working to bring Hispanic immigrants into the mainstream American financial system, to help them avaoid predatory and other high-cost financial services, and to enable them to save, access credit, and build economic stability.

Latino immigrants without bank accounts endure a double disadvantage. Approximately two-thirds of immigrants cash their paychecks in check-cashing stores that charge high fees. Furthermore, without a bank account, they are hampered in their ability to build assets and credit histories that would allow them to pursue the American dream to buy a home, start a business, or pursue an education.

As an integral part of its effort, Georgia Appleseed is disseminating a series of financial education materials that give immigrants the tools to make better financial decisions. In addition, we are working with partners around the state in their efforts to reach and fairly serve immigrants, including enhancing efficiency and transparency within the fast-growing remittance market.

Remittance Policy

Banking in a Global Market
Georgia Appleseed, in conjunction with the national office of Appleseed and four Appleseed Centers (Texas, Alabama, Illinois and Nebraska) announces development of a guide to help financial institutions better serve the growing global remittance market.

“Banking in a Global Market” offers a step-by-step approach to establishing a remittance program that is beneficial to both consumers and the financial institutions serving them. The report describes several effective remittance programs, drawing on the experiences of financial institutions in Georgia and throughout the U.S.

Many of Georgia’s immigrants lag behind the general population in using mainstream financial services. This has had harsh consequences: financial victimization, muggings, and even murder, right here in Georgia. By offering a tried-and-tested remittance program, financial institutions can more successfully enter and serve the immigrant market. Serving this market will help to promote public safety and economic security, and immigrants will have a better opportunity to save money, build credit, and move up the financial ladder.

Click on each title below to read and/or download the document

“Banking in a Global Market Executive Summary”

“Banking in a Global Market: A Financial Institution Guide for Offering International Remittance Services”

“Banking in a Global Market Supplement: Detailed Profiles of Financial Institution Remittance Programs”