GWINNETT COUNTY — A local educators group has asked Gwinnett County Sheriff Keybo Taylor to pause his office’s cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, citing concerns that immigration enforcement activity is contributing to fear among students and families and affecting school attendance.
The Gwinnett County Association of Educators sent an open letter to Taylor this week requesting a temporary pause in cooperation with ICE to allow county leaders to assess how current practices may be affecting students.
“The presence of unidentified and unaccountable masked agents in our community puts students and educators at serious risk,” the letter states. The group said fear associated with immigration enforcement is affecting students’ mental health and academic performance.
Educators said teachers across Gwinnett County have reported increased absenteeism as some families keep children home out of concern that parents or guardians could be detained. The association did not cite districtwide attendance data in its letter.
“In the midst of Georgia’s literacy crisis, it is especially cruel to subject school-aged children to traumatic events that impose a burden not only to their mental health and academics now, but for their future prospects as adults,” the letter states.
In response, Taylor said his office is legally required to cooperate with federal immigration authorities but remains open to dialogue with educators and community leaders.
“As such, we are taking immediate steps to meet with the group, as we have with other community leaders, civil rights organizations and elected officials for a candid conversation regarding this delicate matter,” Taylor said in a statement. “We are committed to serving all residents of Gwinnett and maintain an unequivocal, consistent posture of service to our community, adherence to the Constitution and institutional accessibility.”
Taylor has previously said Georgia law requires local law enforcement agencies to honor ICE detainers for individuals who are already in custody.
“If someone comes into our jail and ICE places a detainer on them, we are going to honor that detainer,” Taylor has said. “Our job is to enforce the law, not to invoke fear in our communities.”
The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it has received the educators’ letter and plans to meet with representatives from the association. Taylor has not indicated that he plans to pause cooperation with ICE.
Gwinnett County Public Schools has said it does not participate in immigration enforcement and has reiterated that schools are considered sensitive locations under federal policy. District officials have emphasized the importance of student attendance and access to education.
The request comes amid broader debate across metro Atlanta over immigration enforcement and the role of local law enforcement, with schools increasingly cited in discussions about student well-being and access to education.
