LISTEN: The Homeland Security list of some 500 sanctuary jurisdictions nationwide is no longer on the department's website, but it included the cities of Atlanta and Athens. In this week’s Lawmaker’s Huddle, GPB’s Donna Lowry engages with two state legislators who represent Athens to gather their perspectives on this issue.

Sen. Bill Cowsert

Athens Republican Sen. Bill Cowsert presents a bill to the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee in 2024.

Credit: Screenshot (file photo)

The Department of Homeland Security has officially removed its list of "sanctuary jurisdictions" from its website, which included six areas in Georgia.  

The designation has sparked confusion in some of the communities on the controversial list.  

In this week’s Lawmaker’s Huddle, GPB’s Donna Lowry engages with two state legislators who represent Athens, on opposing sides of the aisle, to gather their perspectives on this issue. 

 

TRANSCRIPT

Donna Lowry: The Homeland Security list of some 500 sanctuary jurisdictions nationwide is no longer on the department's website, but it included the cities of Atlanta and Athens, as well as DeKalb. Fulton, Douglas, and Athens-Clarke counties.  Joining me is a lawmaker from the Athens area, Republican Sen. Bill Cowsert — who is also a candidate for Georgia attorney general. Welcome to Lawmaker's Huddle. 

Bill Cowsert: Thank you, Donna, it's great to be with you today.  

Donna Lowry: Should the city of Athens and Athens-Clarke County have been on it? 

Bill Cowsert: Well, this has a little history to it, Donna. Back a couple of years ago, Athens County Commission — we're a unified county, Athens and Clarke County — passed a resolution that very clearly stated that we were a welcoming community to all immigrants, documented and undocumented, and essentially said, in effect, that we were a sanctuary city, but very carefully did not designate Athens-Clarke County as a sanctuary city. And that was important because of the loss of potential state benefits, if you officially called yourself sanctuary city. On the other hand, our government made it clear we were welcoming to undocumented people and our sheriff's department was not cooperating with ICE. So, we were a de facto sanctuary city. The Laken Riley murder was just directly a result of that type of policy and that type of attitude that encouraged undocumented, what I still call illegal immigrants, to come and locate here in Athens. After the tragedy, the Laken Riley murder, the government backed off on that.  

Donna Lowry:  I have to ask you about HB 1105. The General Assembly passed the Georgia Criminal Alien Track and Report Act of 2024. It requires local law enforcement to work closely with federal authorities to track and report undocumented individuals. Do you think there is confusion about the law?  

Bill Cowsert: First of all, I supported HB 1105. What that does is make local law enforcement follow federal law. It was just a way for us as the Legislature to make it clear we want our cities, counties, and law enforcement agencies to follow federal law and cooperate with ICE.  

Donna Lowry:  Now, joining me is another Athens lawmaker, Democratic Rep. Spencer Frye. Welcome to Lawmakers' Huddle.  

Spencer Frye: Hey, thanks a lot for having me.

Georgia state Rep. Spencer Frye (D-Athens) on GPB's Lawmakers on February 26, 2025. (Lawmakers/GPB)

Georgia state Rep. Spencer Frye (D-Athens) on GPB's Lawmakers on Feb. 26, 2025.

Credit: Lawmakers/GPB

Donna Lowry: I want to continue the discussion I had with Sen. Cowsert and get your perspective on the Department of Homeland Security listing Athens and Athens-Clarke County as sanctuary jurisdictions. 

Spencer Frye: If you put Athens and Athens-Clarke County on the same list, don't you even know that you've actually said the same thing twice? It's a unified government, so it's the exact same area.  The reality is that they passed a resolution declaring themselves welcoming of all races and people from different religions and different countries and different backgrounds.  

Donna Lowry:  You have a bill ready to drop in January on this issue.  

Spencer Frye: I call it the GA-1 visa. It's basically the state taking over the obligations of the federal government because we need these workers in our factories. We need these workers to pick our crops and farm our fields. And listen, I'm not saying that's all they're good for. What I'm saying is that's what they are coming here to do to live a better life. 

Donna Lowry: Rep. Frye and Sen. Cowsert had more to say on immigration. Listen to the extended interviews in the podcast Battleground Ballot Box wherever you get your podcasts. For Lawmakers Huddle, I’m Donna Lowry. 

Tags: Georgia  Georgia Politics  Lawmakers  Athens  Department of Homeland Security  sanctuary cities  ICE  Immigration