We need a greater ICE presence in Atlanta to keep the city safe By: Buddy Carter
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Worst of the Worst database reports that the following undocumented immigrants were convicted of crimes before being arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Atlanta. - Gustavo Rivas Velasco of El Salvador was convicted of homicide and gang activity before his arrest by ICE.
- Khamphan Souvanhnakhot of Laos was arrested for homicide, aggravated assault with a weapon, negligent manslaughter with a vehicle and willful killing with a weapon before his arrest.
- Ha Huynh of Vietnam was convicted of voluntary manslaughter before her arrest.
- Usman Momoh of Nigeria was convicted of aggravated assault with a gun before his arrest.
- Bounlom Keonet of Laos was convicted of assault and larceny before his arrest.
- Jared Morales-Morales of Mexico was convicted of assault and cruelty toward a child before his arrest.
These convicted criminals were living in our cities, leeching off our social services, stealing our jobs and threatening our safety through drugs and violent crimes. They didn’t come here to contribute; they came here to harm, kill, steal and deceive.
It’s time these bad actors were stopped, and I’m calling on ICE and DHS to send more resources to metro Atlanta to get these criminals off our streets for good. The days of President Joe Biden’s soft-on-crime, open-border policies — supported by Democratic Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock — are over, but we are still dealing with the consequences. A recent Migration Policy Institute report found that nearly 500,000 illegal immigrants live in the state of Georgia, giving it the sixth highest rate of illegal immigration nationwide — a more than 45% increase since 2018.
This was no accident; it was the intended impact of four years of runaway Democratic leadership, where undocumented immigrants, not American citizens, benefited from socialist policies that threatened the very right of our nation to exist.
The report further describes Georgia as a “newer destination state” for undocumented immigrants. That is unacceptable. Georgia is a destination for tourism and business, not undocumented immigrants and crimes. Disrespectfully, undocumented immigrants aren’t welcome here.
In the face of this irrefutable data, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens had the audacity to claim “public safety has been a top priority” of his administration and “the results speak for themselves.”
A recent Migration Policy Institute report found that nearly 500,000 illegal immigrants live in the state of Georgia, giving it the sixth highest rate of illegal immigration nationwide — a more than 45% increase since 2018.
This was no accident; it was the intended impact of four years of runaway Democratic leadership, where undocumented immigrants, not American citizens, benefited from socialist policies that threatened the very right of our nation to exist. The report further describes Georgia as a “newer destination state” for undocumented immigrants. That is unacceptable. Georgia is a destination for tourism and business, not undocumented immigrants and crimes. Disrespectfully, undocumented immigrants aren’t welcome here.
In the face of this irrefutable data, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens had the audacity to claim “public safety has been a top priority” of his administration and “the results speak for themselves.”
The results do speak loudly, and they’re calling for better enforcement of our immigration laws. Georgia’s law enforcement officers are American heroes, risking their lives daily to protect their neighbors and keep us safe. They — not liberal politicians — are responsible for every modicum of safety we feel, and their efforts and sacrifices should be commended.
It is not enough to merely thank them; they deserve our support, particularly when it comes to tackling our illegal immigration epidemic.
They need the additional resources that only the federal government can provide. We’ve seen the success of federal intervention in other Democratic-run cities. Since President Donald Trump deployed ICE agents to Minneapolis as part of Operation Metro Surge, 3,000 illegal immigrants have been arrested — including murderers, rapists, gang members and perpetrators of fraud.
That is what happens when you give a problem the attention and resources it deserves — you start to see results. It’s time we took aim at Atlanta’s migrant crime problem. We can’t wait for a repeat of the tragedy of Laken Riley — the nursing student killed near the University of Georgia in 2024 by an Venezuelan immigrant who entered the U.S. illegally — to spark change.
This should be a bipartisan effort, and I am calling on Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, along with the entire Georgia congressional delegation, to join me in this effort to make our city safe again.
Under the leadership of President Donald Trump, we can get this done.
Read my AJC op-ed here. |
On this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing, we discuss the House-passage of Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) reform.
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Monday, January 19, 2026: On Saturday, I was in Roberta in Crawford County as I had the honor of addressing the county GOP at their monthly meeting. Roberta is located southwest of Macon in west-central Georgia and is a former railroad hub with a close proximity to the Flint River. Established in 1888 on land for the A&F railroad, Roberta was named after the daughter of a local landowner, Hiram David McCrary. Crawford County was founded in 1822 and named for statesman William H. Crawford. Afterwards, I headed to Forsyth in Monroe County north of Macon, where I met with local officials to discuss the growth the area is experiencing, including the future location of two data centers. Located on I-75 between Macon and Atlanta, Forsyth was founded in 1823 and named for politician John Forsyth and Monroe County was created in 1821 and named for James Monroe. Later in the evening, I was in Suwanee in Gwinnett County where I attended the Republican local candidate forum and was honored to address the group. On Sunday, I attended Christ Covenant Church in the Buckhead community in Atlanta where Senior Pastor Jason Dees did a great job delivering a meaningful and inspirational message. A Christ-centered church on mission to make disciples that make disciples, Christ Covenant has grown significantly and now has a location in Sandy Springs, with typically over 1,800 in attendance, many of them young people. After traveling back home yesterday afternoon, I’m up early this morning and live on Fox Business’ Mornings with Maria as I join guest host Cheryl Casone and we discuss the upcoming budget votes this week and the situation in Minneapolis. After being home less than 16 hours, most of it dark, I head back to Atlanta and then drive to Morganton in Fannin County in the North Georgia Mountains where I am honored to speak to the county GOP at their monthly meeting. Fannin County is located at the tri-state area of Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee and is near where I went to school at Young Harris College. It was created in 1854 and is named after James Fannin, a veteran who fought in the Texas Revolution. Rep. Carter interviewed on Capitol Hill Tuesday, January 20, 2026: After joining in on our weekly all staff conference call, I head to the Atlanta airport for my return trip to Washington. Once back in our office, I have a series of meetings with our staff beginning with our scheduling team and followed by our communications team. Next, I meet with representatives from Abbvie, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, to discuss healthcare issues before having a call with the CEO of CVS/Caremark who will be testifying before the Energy and Commerce (E&C) Health Subcommittee later this week. Afterwards, I head to the House Visitors Center (HVC) where the House GOP is having a media row to discuss year one of the second Trump Administration. After doing four interviews with various outlets, I head to an E&C member briefing on FirstNet legislation and then head to the members dining room at the Capitol for a meeting with members of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA). Next, I head to our weekly Whip Team meeting before heading to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week. After remaining in the Chamber to speak on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Modernization Act that I am sponsoring, I head to a meeting of the Republican Main Street Caucus (RMSC) where we hear from one of our colleagues, Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) who is Chair of the Freedom Caucus. Rep. Carter meets with AbbVie Wednesday, January 21, 2026: After our weekly GOP Conference meeting, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to Wayne Barth from Union County Hospital in Blairsville for being chosen as a 2025 Hospital Hero by the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA), Barbara Harn from Northside Hospital in Cherokee for being awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award given by the GHA, Nurse Heather Daniels from Liberty Regional Medical Center who was also chosen as a 2025 Hospital Hero by the GHA and seven Georgia Golf Courses that were named to Golf Week’s top 200 resort golf courses in America. Next, I head to an E&C full committee markup that lasts most of the day with intervals including a break for our first vote series of the day and one where I meet with Nuspera Medical to discuss Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) policies. After the markup I have a meeting with the CEO of Cigna who also will be testifying before the E&C Health Subcommittee tomorrow. After our second and last vote series of the day, I remain in the Chamber and pay tribute to Seth Nesmith of Atrium Health Navicent in Macon, who was honored by the GHA as a 2025 GA Physician Hero. My last meeting of the day is off Capitol Hill as I meet with the American Nuclear Society (ANS) Nuclear Policy Leadership. Rep. Carter visits with Neuspera Medical Thursday, January 22, 2026: I’m back off Capitol Hill this morning as I attend a bipartisan energy discussion with the American Petroleum Institute (API). Once back on Capitol Hill, I head to the aforementioned E&C Health subcommittee hearing where we hear from Insurance Company executives. This hearing was personal for me as I have practiced Pharmacy for over 40 years and witnessed first-hand the egregious practices of these companies and how they have had a major role in trying to ruin healthcare in our country. Afterwards, I head to the triangle outside the plaza in front of the Capitol where I host a press conference with Voters for Cures on Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) reform. Afterwards, I head to the Capitol where I visit briefly with Paris Hilton who is in town promoting legislation. Paris is a great example of someone using their celebrity status to advocate for causes she believes in. Next, I head to an E&C Environment Subcommittee hearing on the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) before heading to the House Chamber for our final vote series of the week where we pass our final appropriation bills that includes three of my bills dealing with healthcare reform including PBM reform. After remaining in the House Chamber to honor Deputy Insurance Commissioner Steve Manders who passed recently, I head to the airport for my return trip to Georgia as we are unexpectedly out tomorrow in order for everyone to get home before the anticipated bad weather that is predicted to impact the east coast this weekend. Rep. Carter hosts PBM Reform Press Conference |
One of the biggest archaeological digs in U.S. history took place in 1933 at Macon’s Ocmulgee Indian Mounds, which is now a National Historical Park. |
Click here to see this week's vote sheet in the House of Representatives. |
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