Increased ICE activity reported in Athens

ATHENS, Ga. — The Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition (AIRC) says recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the Athens area have affected multiple local families and is asking the community to help those impacted.

In a statement released Monday, the coalition said it has become aware of a “significant ICE presence” in Athens over the past several days. The group said many immigrant residents have been detained, but it is still working to determine exactly how many families have been affected.

Coalition says families have been separated

AIRC said the cases it has confirmed so far involve individuals who did not have criminal records. The organization said it does not yet know the total number of people detained. One of the cases involves four adults from the same family who were taken into custody, leaving behind an 11-year-old girl without her parents. Now Georgia has not been able to independently verify that information.

“Across the community, ICE agents have conducted operations that have left many families living in fear and uncertainty,” the coalition said. “We had hoped Athens would be spared from this kind of trauma, but that is no longer the reality our community faces.”

The organization said it opposes what it describes as “abusive and unconstitutional” immigration enforcement tactics. It also said immigrants are an important part of the Athens community and called for families to remain together.

AIRC is encouraging residents to learn their rights, speak out against policies that separate families and support those affected by the recent detentions.

Donations for affected families

According to WUGA News, AIRC and several Athens residents have reported seeing ICE officers conducting operations in the area. Neither the Athens-Clarke County Police Department nor the Athens-Clarke County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed whether ICE notified local law enforcement before carrying out the operations.

To help families affected by the detentions, AIRC is collecting donations through its Support for Immigrant Families in Crisis (SIFIC) working group. The fund helps pay for legal fees and living expenses for families impacted by immigration enforcement. It also provides assistance to families facing separation, violence, persecution, financial hardship or medical crises.

The coalition said it will continue to share verified information as it learns more about the ongoing ICE activity and the families affected.

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