Atlanta, GA, January 27, 2026
Around 300 Atlanta residents gathered to protest against the funding and actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This demonstration followed recent fatal shootings involving ICE agents in Minneapolis, raising widespread concerns about federal immigration enforcement practices. The protest highlights growing national frustration towards increased ICE budgets amidst ongoing debates about immigration policy and enforcement tactics.
Atlanta Residents Protest Against ICE Amidst National Scrutiny
Atlanta, Georgia – On Monday, approximately 300 individuals gathered on Hosea Williams Drive in Kirkwood to voice their opposition to the continued funding and actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The demonstration took place as nationwide attention remains focused on recent events, including two fatal shootings involving federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and ongoing debates surrounding significant increases in ICE’s budget. The assembly served as a tangible expression of concerns that have begun to coalesce across various communities regarding the scope and nature of federal immigration enforcement.
Minneapolis Shootings Fuel Broader Concerns
The Atlanta protest follows closely on the heels of two separate incidents in Minneapolis where U.S. citizens were fatally shot by federal forces in January 2026, incidents that have intensified public discourse and scrutiny of federal immigration agencies.
In the first incident, Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot and killed by an ICE agent on January 7, 2026, while reportedly observing ICE activity near her home. A few weeks later, on Saturday, January 24, 2026, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was shot and killed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent during protests against immigration crackdowns. Accounts from videos circulating online depict Pretti holding his phone and being subjected to chemical spray before being wrestled to the ground and shot multiple times. While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated Pretti approached officers with a handgun and resisted, video evidence reviewed by some and statements from Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara indicate Pretti was a lawful gun owner and was not observed holding a gun during the initial interaction with agents.
The circumstances surrounding both Minneapolis shootings have led to questions regarding investigative transparency. Minnesota state officials have reported being impeded from accessing crucial evidence for their inquiries. Furthermore, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations branch has assumed the lead role in investigating Pretti’s shooting, a decision that some current and former officials have described as unusual given it involves one DHS agency investigating another, the Border Patrol. A federal judge has since issued an order preventing DHS from altering or destroying evidence related to the Pretti incident. These events collectively underscore a deepening human cost and raise fundamental questions about accountability in federal enforcement operations.
Nationwide Increase in ICE Funding and Operational Scope
The protests in Atlanta and the tragic events in Minneapolis are set against a backdrop of significantly increased national funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In July 2025, the U.S. government enacted the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which allocated unprecedented funding to ICE for detention facilities and deportation operations, surpassing appropriations for any other federal law enforcement agency or even the federal prison system. This expansion of resources has been linked to projections of increased mass detentions and deportations, alongside limitations on access to asylum.
Recruitment efforts for new ICE agents have included substantial incentives, such as a $50,000 sign-on bonus and $60,000 in college loan forgiveness for sworn police officers. This surge in funding and personnel has contributed to a national climate of heightened enforcement. Public opinion polls conducted by July 2025 indicated a majority of Americans held an unfavorable view of the agency.
Most recently, in January 2026, the House of Representatives passed an appropriations bill aimed at renewing ICE’s budget. This bill proposes an additional $400 million for ICE’s detention budget, raising it from $3.4 billion to $3.8 billion, and an additional $370 million for ICE’s enforcement budget, increasing it from $5.08 billion to $5.45 billion for the fiscal year 2026. Overall, since the Department of Homeland Security was established in 2003, ICE’s annual spending has nearly tripled, from $3.3 billion to $9.6 billion in fiscal year 2024. A significant portion of these funds, specifically $3.43 billion in FY 2024, was directed towards immigration detention centers, a sum nearly three times greater than the combined appropriations for the entire immigration court system and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ refugee and asylum division. This fiscal trend highlights a sustained commitment to enforcement over humanitarian processing.
Concerns extend beyond funding to operational tactics. Reports indicate a rise in individuals impersonating ICE agents due to the agency’s use of plainclothes arrests. Additionally, a leaked ICE memo has reportedly authorized agents to enter private residences based solely on “administrative” warrants, a practice some legal observers contend may be inconsistent with Fourth Amendment protections. These issues collectively contribute to a complex and often poignant human landscape where policy decisions bear direct and profound consequences on individuals and communities across the nation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions regarding the recent protests in Atlanta and related immigration enforcement issues.
- What prompted the protest in Atlanta on Monday, January 26, 2026?
- The protest in Atlanta was prompted by opposition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) funding and actions, following two fatal shootings involving federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Where did the Atlanta protest take place?
- The protest occurred on Hosea Williams Drive in Kirkwood, Atlanta, Ga.
- How many people participated in the Atlanta protest?
- Approximately 300 people participated in the rally.
- Who were Renee Good and Alex Pretti?
- Renee Good was a 37-year-old mother of three fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026. Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old intensive care nurse fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026. Both were U.S. citizens.
- What is the current status of the investigations into the Minneapolis shootings?
- Minnesota state officials have reported being blocked from accessing evidence for the investigations. ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations branch is leading the investigation into Alex Pretti’s shooting, and a federal judge has ordered DHS not to alter or destroy evidence related to the Pretti incident.
- What is the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and how did it affect ICE funding Nationwide?
- The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law in July 2025, allocated unprecedented funding to ICE, surpassing appropriations for any other federal law enforcement agency or the federal prison system Nationwide.
- What are the proposed increases for ICE’s budget in the FY2026 DHS Funding Bill Nationwide?
- The FY2026 DHS Funding Bill proposes an additional $400 million for ICE’s detention budget, increasing it from $3.4 billion to $3.8 billion, and an additional $370 million for ICE’s enforcement budget, increasing it from $5.08 billion to $5.45 billion Nationwide.
- How has ICE’s overall spending changed since the creation of DHS Nationwide?
- Since the Department of Homeland Security’s creation in 2003, ICE’s annual spending has nearly tripled from $3.3 billion to $9.6 billion in fiscal year 2024 Nationwide.
Key Features of Recent Immigration Enforcement Discussions
| Feature | Details | Geographic Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Protest Event | Rally against ICE funding and actions on Monday, January 26, 2026, with approximately 300 participants. | Atlanta, Ga. |
| Minneapolis Shootings | Fatal shootings of Renee Good (ICE) and Alex Pretti (Border Patrol) in January 2026. | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” Funding | Unprecedented allocation of funds to ICE in July 2025. | Nationwide |
| Proposed FY2026 ICE Budget Increases | +$400 million for detention budget, +$370 million for enforcement budget. | Nationwide |
| Overall ICE Spending Trend | Nearly tripled from $3.3 billion (2003) to $9.6 billion (FY 2024). | Nationwide |
| Detention vs. Adjudication Funding (FY 2024) | $3.43 billion for detention centers, nearly 3x combined for courts and asylum division. | Nationwide |
| Recruitment Incentives for ICE | $50,000 sign-on bonus, $60,000 college loan forgiveness for police officers. | Nationwide |
| Concerns over Investigative Transparency | Minnesota officials blocked from evidence, ICE leading internal investigation of Border Patrol. | State-level (Minnesota) |
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Author: STAFF HERE ATLANTA WRITER
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