SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) - Federal agencies are conducting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or ICE raids, across the country, including one in Savannah.
It is part of a sweeping nationwide effort targeting alleged illegal migrants with criminal backgrounds.
The drug enforcement agency, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), told News 3 in a statement the raids are meant to catch people trafficking in drugs.
“The DEA, along with our Department of Justice partners, is assisting DHS and other federal law enforcement partners with their immigration enforcement efforts," Acting Special Agent, United Stated Drug Enforcement Agency, Atlanta Division, Jae W. Chung said. "As we have seen in many cases, Mexican drug cartels use illegal immigrants to run day to day operations within the borders of the US, where dangerous drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl are processed and distributed with tragic consequences.”
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson acknowledged the raid at this Tuesday press briefing.
"President Trump is doing what he said he would do, so I don't know why we would be surprised that this is playing out the way it's playing out," said Mayor Johnson.
He said that the city was made aware of the operations and cooperated with federal agents.
"Whatever ICE does is what ICE does," said Johnson, "My continued call is that all people are treated with dignity whether they are citizens or not."
When it comes to enforcement, Johnson said the city cannot enforce federal immigration laws, but will let agencies, such as ICE, handle business.
"We're not in the immigration business, and we won't be in the immigration business," the mayor said.
Craig Dobson, the owner of Dobson Law LLC, is an immigration lawyer with clients in Savannah and the Lowcountry. He said his goal let people know their rights and to not scare anyone.
"We have to keep our clients informed without unnecessarily scaring people, so it's that balance you have to strike," said Dobson.
He told WSAV his advice if someone is subject to a raid.
"You can never advise the client to just remain here unlawfully," said Dobson. "If you've got some way to fix your status, so to speak, then go for it. Otherwise, there are risks to remaining here, and a lawyer can't advocate for someone to remain in the United States illegally or to work here illegally."
News 3 contacted with the DEA, and we are awaiting results of the Savannah raid.
