Jan 6, 2026

Georgia is an ICE Hot Spot

The Issue - 
Georgia is one of the worst states in terms of ICE detentions.  



"Georgia saw the 4th most ICE arrests in 2025, according to data from the Deportation Data Project."


"Efforts to arrest and remove unauthorized immigrants appear most aggressive in Georgia and other southern states with Democratic-leaning cities, while deeply red, rural states are seeing less activity, according to an Axios analysis."


ICE Expands Partnerships in Georgia - College of Coastal Georgia
"ICE’s 287(g) program extends immigration law enforcement authority by delegating it to officers in state and local agencies."  
"In March, Governor Kemp announced an expansion of Georgia’s partnership with ICE. The Georgia Department of Corrections has participated in the Jail Enforcement Model since 2020. The Georgia Department of Public Safety is now participating in the Task Force Model. Under the Task Force Model, all 1,100 Georgia Department of Public Safety officers are to be trained by ICE on immigration enforcement and will work collaboratively with ICE to enforce immigration law in the field." 
"Detractors of the program raise concerns that the 287(g) program results in family separations, potential rifts between immigrant communities and law enforcement, and concerns about local tax dollars being squandered to support a federal program."


"Kemp revealed this week that Georgia would join the effort, saying 75 National Guard troops would undergo training in mid-September “and should be on duty shortly thereafter” to work at ICE facilities in Georgia. The governor’s announcement comes after ICE arrests have already surged by 367% in the state this year, with 4,500 illegal immigrants arrested in the state between Jan. 20 and July 31."


"Mario Guevara spent over 20 years covering the Latino community in Metro Atlanta. Last summer, he was arrested by Doraville police at a "No Kings" rally in DeKalb County and later turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE. Guevara spent more than 100 days in ICE custody before being deported to El Salvador."
One of the biggest questions right now centers on Social Circle, a small city of about 5,000 people located roughly 45 miles east of Atlanta... The draft proposal reportedly includes facilities that could hold between 5,000 and 10,000 people each... David Keener said the city did not receive any notice from the federal government before the report came out. "We do not have the water and sewer capacity," Keener said. "That's probably the biggest reason. And most people in town are opposed to this facility locating here.""


"A Georgia congressman is publicly urging federal immigration authorities to expand enforcement operations across the Atlanta metropolitan area, raising concerns about a potential increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity. If federal agencies respond to these requests, the result could be more workplace enforcement actions, home visits, and arrests involving non-citizens in the region."
Note: The Congressman is Buddy Carter of district 1 in Georgia (the Savannah/Bruswick area)


WHO TO CONTACT

THIS LINK will take you to the page for frequent contacts in Georgia.  It includes the governor, US senators, and US Representatives.  I plan to send some of them postcards and call others.  


❃  A SHORT MESSAGE FROM ME.  ❃  

I've spent some time the last couple of weeks thinking about how I could do even better on this site.  Instead of reading a ton of articles and then spending way too long combining all the info into one post, I am putting links to pertinent articles with significant quotes from each.  The basic ideas will hopefully be obvious and you can go to any of the sources linked to see more.  I'm hoping this allows for more posts while still giving me time to have a life and recharge.

There is much to do this year.  I plan to be a thorn in the side to those who are doing harm and a cheerleader to those who are working hard to make our country a better place.  I am certain there will be some rough challenges, but I am far more prepared to push back this year than I was in 2025.  I'm not alone.  Many hands working together can make great changes.