'One America': Small Town Welcomes Thousands Of Refugees With Southern Hospitality

Called the “Ellis Island of the South”, Clarkston, Georgia is the small town with a big heart.

It has been the destination for international refugees fleeing persecution and war for more than 30 years, with 40 nationalities speaking 60 languages co-mingling within the Southern town’s 1.4 square miles. 

In the past 25 years, Georgia has resettled 37,000 refugees — a majority of whom have come through Clarkston. 

Amid angry rhetoric about immigration policies in America today, Mayor Ted Terry, 35, believes Clarkston shines as an example of how a diverse group of people can live together and make it work.

“The way people look at Southern culture, you could look at it and see why refugees wouldn’t be welcome, but you could also look at it as ours is a culture of hospitality, ours is a culture of faith, and that’s really been a big part of the refugee program."

With 89% of the refugees self-sufficient within six months and not dependent on government aid, many of the immigrants go on to become American citizens contributing to the melting pot nation that has traditionally asked for the world's "huddled masses" born to breathe free.

Watch the video and read the article from Today for an uplifting perspective on immigration today.