Transparency Builds Trust: Addressing Community Concerns About ICE Activity in Sandy Springs
ICE agents conduct an immigration enforcement operation in Sandy Springs on July 16, 2026. The activity prompted community concerns and calls for greater transparency regarding coordination, public safety, and communication with residents.
One of the most important responsibilities of public service is listening when people are concerned.
On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, I addressed the Sandy Springs City Council during public comment to speak about growing concerns surrounding recent immigration enforcement activity in and around our community. My message was simple: transparency and public safety go hand in hand.
Click here to watch his statements.
As families prepare for a new school year, many residents have shared concerns about what they are seeing and hearing. Parents are asking whether it is safe to take their children to school. Workers are asking what their rights are during traffic stops. Community members deserve clear information—not rumors or fear.
My request to the City was not about assigning blame or advancing a political agenda. It was about ensuring residents understand the policies and procedures that govern interactions between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
When people have accurate information, fear gives way to confidence. Transparency helps residents make informed decisions, strengthens trust in government, and supports the work of our public safety professionals.
I believe we can protect public safety while also protecting the constitutional rights of every person in our community. Those goals are not in conflict—they reinforce one another.
Leadership means addressing difficult questions, even when the answers require thoughtful conversation. I remain committed to advocating for openness, accountability, and policies that keep every Sandy Springs resident informed, safe, and respected.
Our community is strongest when government communicates clearly, listens carefully, and earns the public's trust through transparency.
Graduating Citizens Police Academy: Why Showing Up Matters
Public safety is strongest when residents stay engaged. After completing Sandy Springs’ Citizens Police Academy, Dontaye Carter reflects on how civic involvement helps shape better policies, stronger departments, and safer communities.
Last April, I graduated from the Sandy Springs Citizens Police Academy.
This wasn’t my first Citizens Police Academy, and it wasn’t about earning a certificate or proving a point. It was about continuing to show up.
Over the years, I’ve participated in Citizens Police Academies in nearly every city I’ve called home. I believe that informed residents make stronger communities, and that meaningful change happens when people engage directly with the institutions that serve them.
As I worked through the Sandy Springs program, I noticed something encouraging: some of the public safety improvements I’ve advocated for in Sandy Springs over the years have become reality.
Stronger background checks.
Greater scrutiny of officer history and prior conduct.
Higher compensation to attract and retain the best talent.
Today, Sandy Springs Police Department is one of the highest-paid departments in Georgia. That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because residents, elected officials, and law enforcement leaders stayed engaged and worked toward solutions.
Public safety is not something we can take for granted. It requires partnership, accountability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
I’m grateful for the officers, staff, and volunteers who make this program possible and for the opportunity to learn more about the work being done every day to keep our community safe.
The lesson remains the same:
Change doesn’t come from the sidelines.
It comes from showing up.