We vehemently oppose the exclusionary property ownership bills in Georgia and Texas, which deliberately block people from certain nationalities from owning property.

For centuries, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been an integral part of the fabric of America. Many generations of AAPIs have called America home, making countless contributions to our nation. But since the arrival of the first AAPI immigrant centuries ago, our communities have been treated as second class citizens. These exclusionary bills in Georgia and Texas are reminiscent of the 1913 Alien Land Law, which barred Asian immigrants from owning land, and the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which prohibited all immigration of Chinese laborers.

These pieces of legislation are a violation of federal law. They discriminate against individuals based on their national origin, and the Senate must block them now.

Discriminatory bills information:

Texas Senate Bill 147 would prohibit individuals from China, North Korea, Iran and Russia —including dual citizens and legal residents of the United States—from buying any real estate in Texas.

Texas Senate Bill 552 would prohibit individuals, companies, and government entities from the same four countries from buying agricultural land in the state.

Georgia HB 452 prohibits those without U.S. citizenship or Legal Permanent Resident status from a “Country of Particular Concern,” as well as companies owned and operated by these foreign nationals, from owning agricultural land or land within 25 miles of a military base in Georgia. This impacts valid visa-holders and refugees who are waiting for permanent resident status. The list of countries currently include Burma, People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.