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The Department of Homeland Security launched a forceful counterattack Monday against former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms after she promoted her 2018 decision to sever ties with Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a Democratic fundraiser in Dalton, Georgia. Bottoms, now a gubernatorial candidate in the state, referenced her past refusal to cooperate with ICE during her keynote address, framing it as a stance against family separation policies.
In remarks at the event, Bottoms described cutting a multiyear, multimillion-dollar agreement with ICE, stating that “all money ain’t good money.” She claimed her move prompted other municipalities and states to follow suit, ultimately making a meaningful difference in immigration policy. The former Biden administration official connected her decision to personal experiences, citing her musician father’s struggles with addiction and time spent visiting him in prisons.
DHS responded with sharp criticism, asserting that Bottoms’ actions merely obstructed federal immigration law and made Atlanta communities vulnerable to illegal immigration. A department spokesperson rejected her characterization of ICE family separation practices, explaining that parents are offered the option to depart with their children or designate a safe person to care for them—a procedure consistent with prior administrations’ enforcement practices.
The DHS official pointed to data suggesting that cooperation with ICE correlates with public safety, noting that seven of the nation’s ten safest cities maintain partnerships with the agency. The department highlighted recent enforcement successes, including 40,000 arrests in Florida and over 650 apprehensions during a two-week operation in West Virginia.
DHS further contended that when local law enforcement cannot work with the agency, federal officers must increase their visible presence in communities to locate and apprehend criminal aliens released from jails. The spokesperson shared mugshots of individuals arrested in Atlanta for serious crimes, including rape and crimes against children, to underscore the department’s position.
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