The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Atlanta division, in partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has arrested 21 people across metro Atlanta. The operation, which took place yesterday, was part of a push to strengthen the enforcement of immigration laws. This collaboration also saw the involvement of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), as evident from photos shared by the FBI showing multiple arrests in the area.
While specifics about the individuals' immigration statuses remain under wraps, the Atlanta FBI shared images on social media of the arrests, with agents seen escorting those taken into custody, with a recovered handgun featured amidst the crackdown. As ICE's field office in Atlanta continues its "enhanced targeted operations," this recent activity follows Governor of Georgia's call for a fortified partnership between state authorities and ICE, aiming at stronger deportation efforts, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge with the Atlanta FBI, indicated how critical and relentless such operations are. "It’s urgent and it’s busy. So, every day we have agents that are out with our other federal agencies helping with enforcement every day. Everyday," Brown expressed in an interview obtained by Atlanta News First. The agencies have not yet released complete details of the operation's outcomes nor the identities of the detained individuals, but it has been confirmed that a handgun was found during the arrests.
Recent ICE raids have sparked protests across metro Atlanta, as residents push back against the intensified immigration enforcement measures. "We feel like it’s a really important time for there to be a mass movement in the streets defending immigrant rights," said Jacob Dallas-Main, an organizer of one such rally in Clayton County, in a statement shared with Atlanta News First. Amid these contentious actions, the first law signed in President Donald Trump's second term, named the Laken Riley Act, requires the arrest and detention of undocumented immigrants convicted of certain crimes until their removal from the U.S. This law commemorates an Augusta University student who lost her life on the University of Georgia campus.
The timing and scale of the operation reflect the continuation of President Trump's position on illegal immigration, a priority he emphasized during his campaigns and supported through executive orders focused on enhancing border security.
