
ICE
arrests more than 1,200 in 2 southeastern states this month amid rise in
threats and attacks
The
arrests were also made without incident, as ICE officers have been facing a
1,300% increase in vehicle attacks and death threats are up 8,000%.
By
Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor justthenews.com 8-21-26
U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests are ongoing nationwide, including
in the southeastern states of Georgia and Mississippi.
In
this month alone, ICE officers have arrested more than 1,200 in the two states.
Arrests
were made through multiagency partnerships and ongoing investigations. Dozens
of local law enforcement agencies, primarily led by sheriffs, have signed ICE
287(g) agreements. In Georgia and Mississippi, the majority have signed Task
Force Model agreements.
This
is significant, ICE argues, because the TFM enables local law enforcement to
make and assist with arrests. With new U.S. attorneys and a renewed
collaboration among multiple law enforcement agencies, border crimes are being
prosecuted, they argue.
The
arrests were also made without incident, as ICE officers have been facing a
1,300% increase in vehicle attacks and death threats are up 8,000%, The Center
Square reported.
In
Georgia, 1,226 criminal foreign nationals were arrested in “Operation Safe
Community – Atlanta.” Nearly all arrested were men with extensive criminal
histories. They include a range of sex crimes, crimes against children,
aggravated assault, assault and battery, drug crimes, lewd and lascivious acts,
burglary, weapons crimes, among others.
Among
those arrested, 720 had either been convicted of or charged with crimes in the
United States. Five of them were arrested at the address of a trucking company
known for employing illegal foreign nationals, ICE said.
The
arrests came after more than 100 287(g) agreements have been signed with law
enforcement in Georgia. As of August 21, the majority are TFM agreements, according to the data.
Congress
created the 287(g) program through the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1996,
which authorizes ICE to delegate to state and local law enforcement officers
the authority to perform specified immigration functions only under ICE’s
direction and supervision. Under previous administrations, only one 287(g)
partnership was used.
The
Trump administration is advocating for law enforcement to participate in three:
a Jail Enforcement Model (JEM), a Task Force Model (TFM) and Warrant Service
Officer (WSO) model.
The
TFM authorizes local law enforcement officers under the oversight of ICE to
enforce limited immigration authority during routine police duties "such
as identifying an alien at a DUI checkpoint and sharing information directly
with ICE,” ICE explains. The local law enforcement officers work with ICE on
apprehension, transportation, detention and other actions, The Center Square reported.
In
Mississippi, more than 60 287(g) agreements have been signed as of August 21,
nearly all are for the TFM.
Local,
state and federal law enforcement officers working with ICE Homeland Security
Investigations arrested 70 people in a child exploitation-targeted
investigation this month.
In
Operation Muddy Waters, they targeted child exploitation offenders and
previously convicted sex offenders across the state. They also identified
cross-border and interstate crime.
Those
arrested were charged with child exploitation, solicitation of children,
possession or distribution of child sexual abuse material, and violations
involving previously convicted sex offenders, ICE said.
As
a result of the operation, multiple new child exploitation investigations have
been launched, “including those involving individuals who allegedly traveled
across state lines to engage in sexual activity with kids, suspects allegedly
involved in the livestreaming of child sexual exploitation, and individuals
accused of downloading, sharing or soliciting child sexual abuse material,” ICE
said.
The
operation also resulted in the arrest of “criminal illegal aliens unlawfully
present in the United States who allegedly traveled across state lines to
engage in sex with children, as well as individuals holding positions of public
trust suspected of possessing child sexual abuse material.”
Examples
of those arrested include a Honduran man illegally in the country who
authorities say traveled from Tennessee to Mississippi for the purpose of
engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a child; a Bangladesh national
illegally living in Alabama who established communication with a 14-year-old
boy via social media; multiple Mexican nationals and registered sex offenders
with criminal histories; as well as U.S. citizens.
The
multi-agency effort was conducted after new U.S. attorneys are prosecuting
border crimes in Mississippi, The Center Square reported.
Under previous administrations, they weren’t, U.S. Attorney for the Northern
District of Mississippi Scott Leary has argued.
Anyone
with information related to child exploitation or border crimes is encouraged
to call 866-DHS-2-ICE.