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ICE launches ‘targeted operations’ in metro Atlanta

TUCKER, Ga. — The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began targeted arrest operations in metro Atlanta Sunday.

Community members say immigration officers arrested several people across the metro Atlanta area on Sunday, although ICE says the operations are ongoing, and they do not have a final number of people arrested.

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Video shared from MG News shows a raid in Lilburn early Sunday morning. ICE agents also came to a church in Tucker around 12:30 p.m.

Channel 2′s Eryn Rogers spoke to Pastor Luis Ortiz who says he was preaching when ICE knocked on the door.

They could not get in because it was locked, but they showed papers for an arrest. Ortiz said once the man went outside, they handcuffed him.

The Department of Homeland Security recently eliminated a Biden Administration policy that limited where agents could make federal immigration arrests. Churches were included on that list.

Ortiz says the man was wearing a wrist monitor, but he did not say why.

ICE said they are targeting people who have a criminal history or have final deportation orders. However, Ortiz says the operations are scaring people in his community.

“The church is a (safe) place...but not now. Because when you cannot come and worship Jesus freely because (you’re) scared sometimes that immigration officers come and arrest all the people,” Ortiz explained.

Immigration attorney, Peter Tadeo, who owns Tadeo & Silva Law, said his office had an influx of calls after President Trump signed executive orders regarding immigration on Monday.

“Unfortunately, many undocumented people do not speak English, do not read English, and they do not know the difference between those two types of warrants, a search warrant and an arrest warrant,” Tadeo said.

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He said people should not open their doors to agents and said a search warrant will have a specific address and a person’s county with a local judge’s signature.

“Wait till you get that that warrant passed under the door through a window, put up to the window so you can read, take a picture of it,” Tadeo said.

He said if people are not at home. They have the right to remain silent. He also said people need to call a reputable immigration attorney immediately.

“This is not the time to hide and say, I’m not going to apply for immigration benefit because I’m afraid,” Tadeo said. “No, this is the perfect time, because that could help you. That would prove to ICE or an immigration judge that you are trying to do something to change your immigration status.”

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Leaders at The Latin American Association said they will meet on Monday to discuss more resources for the community.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sent the following statement to Channel 2 Action News:

“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.”

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