Gwinnett County Sheriff Keybo Taylor recently engaged in what he described as a “constructive setting” with members of the Gwinnett County Association of Educators (GCAE), following their plea for Taylor to stop collaborating with ICE. Empty seats have become a more common sight in classrooms across the county, as the presence of ICE agents has reportedly surged, contributing to a spike in student absences, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
The teachers’ union had formerly issued an open letter calling for a “moratorium on all cooperation” between the sheriffs office and ICE, citing fears for students’ safety and well-being as the primary motivators. This outcry comes in the wake of the ostensible correlation between elevated ICE activities in 2025 and a notable decrease in enrollment within Gwinnett County Public Schools. The GCAE highlighted the profound impacts this has had on community cohesion, funding, and learning opportunities, as expressed in a missive publicized by 11Alive.
In a follow-up letter sent several days after the meeting, Sheriff Taylor pledged to continue discussions with educators and stakeholders, acknowledging the important role educators play in these conversations. The Georgia Association of Educators (GCAE) highlighted in their letter last week that, beyond physical safety concerns, ICE’s actions have disrupted teaching and learning, creating anxiety over the continuity of education in Gwinnett County…