Governor Brian Kemp’s office and Department of Public Safety Commissioner Billy Hitchens announced they are furthering their partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Georgia is seeking federal approval and requesting that ICE train all 1,000 sworn officers at DPS to “Better assist in identifying and apprehending” people in the county without permission and who pose a risk to public safety in the state.
"If you are in our country illegally and committing crimes, you have no place in Georgia," said Governor Brian Kemp. "This is another commonsense measure on top of those we've taken since I first took office to further enable hardworking law enforcement to assist in identifying and apprehending illegal aliens who pose a risk to public safety. I'm also thankful we now have an administration and partner in the White House who recognizes the gravity of this issue and prioritizes keeping Americans safe by securing the border and cracking down on illegal immigration."
The Governor signed legislation last year that requires sheriffs to coordinate with federal immigration officials when someone in custody is suspected of being in the country without permission.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety was created in 1937 and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), Capitol Police and the Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD).
