Overview
- In a Nov. 20 letter, Rep. Buddy Carter asked DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and acting ICE Director Todd Lyons to send additional ICE resources to Atlanta for public safety.
- DHS and ICE did not immediately comment on the request as ICE continues nationwide operations in major cities with a stated goal of up to 2 million removals by the end of 2025.
- Carter highlighted the case of Salvador Rodriguez-Mendoza, who has prior removals and an ICE detainer following his Georgia charges, citing an Oct. 30 DHS release.
- The letter references nearly 500,000 unauthorized migrants in Georgia, which Carter describes as a 45% increase since 2018 based on Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporting.
- Local context shows Atlanta homicides down 26% and overall crime down 8% since 2021, though robberies and aggravated assaults are up.