ICE arrests begin in metro Atlanta, spokesperson says
Immigration crackdown in Georgia
ICE agents have confirmed that they have arrested multiple people in Atlanta, Cartersville, and Savannah as part of an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
ATLANTA - After rumors swirled online about ICE raids in Georgia, it has been confirmed that arrests in metro Atlanta are underway as of Jan. 26, 2025.
ICE raid rumors in Georgia swirl
Police in at least two metro-Atlanta cities want to shut down rumors. Forest Park and Clayton County police say someone on social media falsely claims they’re working with federal immigration officials to conduct immigration-status checks. The departments of both cities say that is not true.
ICE raids begin in Georgia
What they're saying:
"U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with federal partners including the FBI, ATF and DEA, began conducting enhanced targeted operations today in Atlanta to enforce U.S. immigration law and preserve public safety and national security by keeping potentially dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities," a spokesperson for ICE said in a statement.
"Working with @HSIAtlanta and other law enforcement partners to arrest and remove criminal aliens that threaten our communities #iCE #immigration," the Enforcement and Removal Operations office tweeted Sunday evening.
What we know:
On Sunday, an ICE spokesperson specified that targeted operations are happening in Atlanta.
FBI Atlanta, Homeland Security Investigations' Atlanta office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Drug Enforcement Administration are confirmed to be involved.
"Removing criminal aliens from our communities isn’t just enforcement—it’s protection. Ensuring the safety and security of our neighborhoods starts with upholding the law. #PublicSafety #CommunityFirst," HSI Atlanta tweeted with a photo of what appeared to be an arrest being made at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The DEA confirmed via X that they assisted with immigration enforcement efforts in Atlanta, Savannah and Cartersville on Sunday:
There are also confirmed ongoing operations in Chicago, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, and Texas.
What we don't know:
Not much is known at the moment.
It is not clear how many local law enforcement agencies are aiding in the operations.
Authorities have not said how many people have been taken into custody across Georgia so far.
Georgia lawmakers clash on ICE raids
Georgia ICE raids have lawmakers torn
Democrats and Republicans in congress are torn over the ICE raids taking place in metro Atlanta. Some say they're outraged, others say it's only fair to enforce U.S. borders.
What Democrats Are Saying:
Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes (D-Duluth): "I'm outraged by these raids, these folks living in our community are hard-working immigrants."
Sen. Kim Jackson (D-Stone Mountain): "I'm deeply disappointed. I'm disturbed, and we need to stop this. This is not making our communities safer."
"Constituents are very concerned. I've had people ask me, 'Do I need to carry my papers with me? Is it safe for me and my children to go to school? They are very, very worried."
What Republicans Are Saying:
Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell): "We are a nation of laws and we need to not only enforce our borders but also the people who are currently in our country illegally."
Sen. Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia): "I think the president has drawn a clear distinction between those who have come here legally and those who have come here illegally."
"If you come here legally, you come here, you make our country better. But, it's not fair for those who come here legally for those who come here illegally to jump them in line."
"I think what you have seen is a focus on those committing crimes in America, and the citizens in our state are demanding, ‘If you are committing a crime, you need to go home.’"
FOX 5 Atlanta reporter Deidra Dukes contributed to this report.
Trump mass deportation plan takes flight across U.S.
The backstory:
ICE arrests thousands in Trump's first week
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has made thousands of arrests during President Donald Trump's first week in office. Across the U.S., agents have focused on migrants with criminal records or gang ties.
Ahead of both terms, President Donald Trump has consistently campaigned on the promise to crack down on illegal immigration in the U.S.
On Inauguration Day, a number of his executive orders were geared toward beefing up security at the southern border.
Many of the ICE raids are taking place in major cities, targeting those accused of crimes involving drugs, guns and murder.
"We've arrested public safety threats and national security threats. Bottom line," said Border Czar Tom Homan. "And look, President Trump won the election on this one issue, securing our border and saving lives. What’s happened on our southern border last fall is the biggest national security threat this country has seen, at least in my lifetime."
The Trump administration has started deportation flights using military planes.
Fox News reporter Kailey Schuyler contributed to this report from Boston.
ICE raids: How many people have been arrested, deported?
By the numbers:
ICE has been keeping a tally of how many arrests have been made each day. On Sunday night, it was confirmed that 956 people were arrested, and 554 detainers were lodged.
While some of the operations may not have been unusual, ICE averaged 311 daily arrests in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.
Over the last few days, at least six mass deportation flights have been made from the U.S. to Mexico or Guatemala.
ICE completes 6 deportation flights in just days
The U.S. State Department announced six deportation flights have been completed in accordance to President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. Four flights went to Mexico and two to Guatemala. The U.S. government will now require asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their application is processed.
The other side:
The raids in Chicago drew swift criticism from community groups and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.
"We need to get rid of the violent criminals. But we also need to protect people, at least the residents of Illinois and all across the nation, who are just doing what we hope that immigrants will do," Pritzker said Sunday on CNN’s "State of the Union."
This story is developing. Check back for details. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com.
The Source: The information in this article was confirmed by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.