As of early 2026, there are officially zero recognized sanctuary cities or counties in Georgia, as state law has banned such jurisdictions since 2009 and mandates cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
AJC.com +1
While
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) temporarily listed six Georgia
localities—Atlanta,
Athens,
and the counties of Fulton, DeKalb, Douglas, and Athens-Clarke—as
"sanctuary jurisdictions" in May 2025, that list was criticized for
errors, rejected by the local officials named, and subsequently dropped by the
Department of Justice in August 2025.
WABE +1
Key Details as of 2026:
Active Legislation: Georgia continues to enforce strict anti-sanctuary laws, with 2026 legislative efforts focusing on further tightening cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and increasing liability for local officials.
2025 Controversy: In May 2025, a federal list of "sanctuary jurisdictions" included Atlanta, Athens, DeKalb, Fulton, Douglas, and Athens-Clarke counties. However, local officials noted that Georgia law requires them to comply with ICE detainers, and the list was quickly removed.
Political
Context: Despite federal attempts to label certain Georgia areas as
sanctuary jurisdictions, local officials, including Athens-Clarke Mayor Kelly
Girtz, have strongly denied the label, citing compliance with state-mandated
immigration verification.
Georgia Public Broadcasting +4
Under current Georgia law (HB 1105), localities face a loss of state funding and potential criminal charges if they fail to cooperate with ICE.
As of early 2026, there are no official sanctuary cities or counties in Georgia.
WABE +1
While some organizations or federal lists previously identified certain areas as such, current state law and updated federal records indicate the following status for Georgia jurisdictions:
1. Official State and Federal Status
Zero Sanctuaries on Official Lists: In August 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) removed all Georgia localities from its list of "sanctuary jurisdictions".
State Prohibition: Sanctuary policies have been strictly illegal in Georgia since 2009. Municipalities must submit annual compliance certificates to the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts to prove they are following state immigration laws.
Georgia Department of Audits & Accounts (.gov) +4
2.
Jurisdictions Previously Labeled as "Sanctuary"
In
early 2025, the federal government briefly flagged six locations for allegedly
obstructing immigration enforcement, but these designations were retracted
within months after local officials disputed the claims:
FOX 5 Atlanta +2
Cities: Atlanta
and Athens.
Counties: Athens
Clarke, DeKalb, Douglas and Fulton.
Georgia Recorder +2
3. Recent Legal Developments (2025–2026)
House Bill 1105 (2024): This law, the Georgia Criminal Alien Track and Report Act, mandates that local jailers verify the immigration status of detainees and report undocumented individuals to ICE. Failure to comply can result in the loss of state funding.
Senate Bill 21 (2025): Passed by the Georgia Senate in February 2025, this legislation further targets "sanctuary" leanings by waiving sovereign immunity for local governments that adopt such policies. This allows officials to be held civilly liable for crimes committed by undocumented immigrants if the jurisdiction failed to cooperate with federal authorities.
2026 Legislative Efforts: In January 2026, some Democratic state lawmakers introduced a bill attempting to repeal the 2024 sanctuary ban, but current Republican control of the legislature makes its passage unlikely.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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